Directing one or more users to one or more automated customized food generation machines

ABSTRACT

Computationally implemented methods and systems include acquiring user preference information of a user that indicates one or more customized food preferences of the user including at least one or more preferences related to integrity of one or more ingredients for use in generating one or more customized food items; identifying one or more capable automated customized food generation machines that have one or more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized food item in accordance with the one or more customized food preferences of the user; and presenting, in response at least in part to the identification, one or more indicators that direct the user to at least one automated customized food generation machine. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

If an Application Data Sheet (ADS) has been filed on the filing date ofthis application, it is incorporated by reference herein. Anyapplications claimed on the ADS for priority under 35 U.S.C. §§119, 120,121, or 365(c), and any and all parent, grandparent, great-grandparent,etc. applications of such applications, are also incorporated byreference, including any priority claims made in those applications andany material incorporated by reference, to the extent such subjectmatter is not inconsistent herewith.

The present application is related to and/or claims the benefit of theearliest available effective filing date(s) from the following listedapplication(s) (the “Priority Applications”), if any, listed below(e.g., claims earliest available priority dates for other thanprovisional patent applications or claims benefits under 35 USC §119(e)for provisional patent applications, for any and all parent,grandparent, great-grandparent, etc. applications of the PriorityApplication(s)). In addition, the present application is related to the“Related Applications,” if any, listed below.

PRIORITY APPLICATIONS

The present application constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/145,864, entitled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FORPROVIDING CUSTOMIZED PACKAGINGS FOR CUSTOMIZED FOOD ITEMS THAT WERECUSTOMIZED BASED, AT LEAST IN PART, ON CUSTOMIZED FOOD ITEM INTEGRITYPREFERENCE, naming Pablos Holman, Son Hong, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y.Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Max R. Levchin, Royce A. Levien, Richard T.Lord, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C.Petroski, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.,and Victoria Y. H. Wood, as inventors, filed 31, Dec. 2013 with attorneydocket no. 0913-002-007-000000, which is currently co-pending or is anapplication of which a currently co-pending application is entitled tothe benefit of the filing date, and which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/144,163, entitled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FORPROVIDING CUSTOMIZED PACKAGINGS FOR CUSTOMIZED FOOD ITEMS THAT WERECUSTOMIZED BASED, AT LEAST IN PART, ON CUSTOMIZED FOOD ITEM INTEGRITYPREFERENCE, naming Pablos Holman, Son Hong, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y.Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Max R. Levchin, Royce A. Levien, Richard T.Lord, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C.Petroski, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.,and Victoria Y. H. Wood, as inventors, filed 30, Dec. 2013 with attorneydocket no. 0913-002-002-000000.

The present application constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/176,408, entitled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FORPROVIDING CUSTOMIZED FOOD ITEMS THAT ARE CUSTOMIZED BASED, AT LEAST INPART, ON CUSTOMIZED FOOD ITEM INTEGRITY PREFERENCE, naming PablosHolman, Son Hong, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare,Max R. Levchin, Royce A. Levien, Richard T. Lord, Robert W. Lord, MarkA. Malamud, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C. Petroski, Clarence T.Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., and Victoria Y. H. Wood,as inventors, filed 10, Feb. 2014 with attorney docket no.0913-002-008-000000, which is currently co-pending or is an applicationof which a currently co-pending application is entitled to the benefitof the filing date, and which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/175,416, entitled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FORPROVIDING CUSTOMIZED FOOD ITEMS THAT ARE CUSTOMIZED BASED, AT LEAST INPART, ON CUSTOMIZED FOOD ITEM INTEGRITY PREFERENCE, naming PablosHolman, Son Hong, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare,Max R. Levchin, Royce A. Levien, Richard T. Lord, Robert W. Lord, MarkA. Malamud, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C. Petroski, Clarence T.Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., and Victoria Y. H. Wood,as inventors, filed 7, Feb. 2014 with attorney docket no.0913-002-003-000000.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

None as of the filing date.

The United States Patent Office (USPTO) has published a notice to theeffect that the USPTO's computer programs require that patent applicantsreference both a serial number and indicate whether an application is acontinuation, continuation-in-part, or divisional of a parentapplication. Stephen G. Kunin, Benefit of Prior-Filed Application, USPTOOfficial Gazette Mar. 18, 2003. The USPTO further has provided forms forthe Application Data Sheet which allow automatic loading ofbibliographic data but which require identification of each applicationas a continuation, continuation-in-part, or divisional of a parentapplication. The present Applicant Entity (hereinafter “Applicant”) hasprovided above a specific reference to the application(s) from whichpriority is being claimed as recited by statute. Applicant understandsthat the statute is unambiguous in its specific reference language anddoes not require either a serial number or any characterization, such as“continuation” or “continuation-in-part,” for claiming priority to U.S.patent applications. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Applicantunderstands that the USPTO's computer programs have certain data entryrequirements, and hence Applicant has provided designation(s) of arelationship between the present application and its parentapplication(s) as set forth above and in any ADS filed in thisapplication, but expressly points out that such designation(s) are notto be construed in any way as any type of commentary and/or admission asto whether or not the present application contains any new matter inaddition to the matter of its parent application(s).

If the listings of applications provided above are inconsistent with thelistings provided via an ADS, it is the intent of the Applicant to claimpriority to each application that appears in the Priority Applicationssection of the ADS and to each application that appears in the PriorityApplications section of this application.

All subject matter of the Priority Applications and the RelatedApplications and of any and all parent, grandparent, great-grandparent,etc. applications of the Priority Applications and the RelatedApplications, including any priority claims, is incorporated herein byreference to the extent such subject matter is not inconsistentherewith.

SUMMARY

In one or more various aspects, a method includes, but is not limitedto, acquiring user preference information of a user that indicates oneor more customized food preferences of the user including at least oneor more preferences related to integrity of one or more ingredients foruse in generating one or more customized food items, identifying one ormore capable automated customized food generation machines that have oneor more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate at least one customized food item in accordance withthe one or more customized food preferences of the user; and presenting,in response at least in part to the identification, one or moreindicators that direct the user to at least one automated customizedfood generation machine. In various implementations, at least one of theabove recited operations is performed by a machine or article ofmanufacture. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects aredescribed in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of thedisclosure set forth herein.

In one or more various aspects, one or more related systems may beimplemented in machines, compositions of matter, or manufactures ofsystems, limited to patentable subject matter under 35 U.S.C. 101. Theone or more related systems may include, but are not limited to,circuitry and/or programming for effecting the herein-referenced methodaspects. The circuitry and/or programming may be virtually anycombination of hardware, software, and/or firmware configured to effectthe herein-referenced method aspects depending upon the design choicesof the system designer, and limited to patentable subject matter under35 USC 101.

In one or more various aspects, a system includes, but is not limitedto, means for acquiring user preference information of a user thatindicates one or more customized food preferences of the user includingat least one or more preferences related to integrity of one or moreingredients for use in generating one or more customized food items,means for identifying one or more capable automated customized foodgeneration machines that have one or more ingredients in one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item in accordance with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user and means for presenting, in response at leastin part to the identification, one or more indicators that direct theuser to at least one automated customized food generation machine. Inaddition to the foregoing, other system aspects are described in theclaims, drawings, and text forming a part of the disclosure set forthherein.

In one or more various aspects, a system includes, but is not limitedto, circuitry for acquiring user preference information of a user thatindicates one or more customized food preferences of the user includingat least one or more preferences related to integrity of one or moreingredients for use in generating one or more customized food items,circuitry for identifying one or more capable automated customized foodgeneration machines that have one or more ingredients in one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item in accordance with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user; and circuitry for presenting, in response atleast in part to the identification, one or more indicators that directthe user to at least one automated customized food generation machine.In addition to the foregoing, other system aspects are described in theclaims, drawings, and text forming a part of the disclosure set forthherein.

In one or more various aspects, a computer program product, comprising asignal bearing non-transitory storage medium, bearing one or moreinstructions including, but not limited to, acquiring user preferenceinformation of a user that indicates one or more customized foodpreferences of the user including at least one or more preferencesrelated to integrity of one or more ingredients for use in generatingone or more customized food items, identifying one or more capableautomated customized food generation machines that have one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item in accordance with the one ormore customized food preferences of the user, and presenting, inresponse at least in part to the identification, one or more indicatorsthat direct the user to at least one automated customized foodgeneration machine. In addition to the foregoing, other computer programproduct aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forminga part of the disclosure set forth herein.

In one or more various aspects, a system includes, but is not limitedto, a user preference information obtaining module configured to obtainuser preference information of a user that indicates one or morecustomized food preferences of the user, the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user preference information including at least one ormore preferences of the user that are related to integrity of one ormore ingredients for use in generating one or more customized fooditems; a capable automated customized food generation machineascertaining module configured to ascertain one or more capableautomated customized food generation machines that have one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item in accordance with the one ormore customized food preferences of the user; and an indicatorpresenting module configured to present one or more indicators thatdirect the user to at least one automated customized food generationmachine, the presentation of the one or more indicators being inresponse at least in part to the ascertainment.

In addition to the foregoing, various other method and/or system and/orprogram product aspects are set forth and described in the teachingssuch as text (e.g., claims and/or detailed description) and/or drawingsof the present disclosure.

The foregoing is a summary and thus may contain simplifications,generalizations, inclusions, and/or omissions of detail; consequently,those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary isillustrative only and is NOT intended to be in any way limiting. Otheraspects, features, and advantages of the devices and/or processes and/orother subject matter described herein will become apparent by referenceto the detailed description, the corresponding drawings, and/or in theteachings set forth herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

For a more complete understanding of embodiments, reference now is madeto the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings. The use of the same symbols in different drawings typicallyindicates similar or identical items, unless context dictates otherwise.The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description,drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments maybe utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from thespirit or scope of the subject matter presented here.

FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary automated customized food generationmachine 10* that is designed to generate customized food items.

FIG. 1B shows a user 13 in an example environment that includes multipleautomated customized food generation machines.

FIG. 1C shows the user 13 in another example environment that includesmultiple automated customized food generation machines.

FIG. 1D shows the user 13 in another example environment that includesmultiple automated customized food generation machines.

FIG. 1E shows the user 13 in another example environment that includesmultiple automated customized food generation machines.

FIG. 2A illustrates an exemplary screen that identifies locations ofcapable automated customized food generation machines.

FIG. 2B illustrates an exemplary screen that provides directions to acapable automated customized food generation machine.

FIG. 2C illustrates an exemplary screen that shows locations of capableautomated customized food generation machines on a map.

FIG. 2D illustrates an exemplary screen that identifies locations ofsubstitute automated customized food generation machines.

FIG. 2E illustrates an exemplary screen that identifies locations ofcapable and substitute automated customized food generation machines.

FIG. 3A shows a block diagram of a particular implementation of theautomated customized food generation machine 10* of FIG. 1A illustratedas automated customized food generation machine 10 a.

FIG. 3B shows a block diagram of another implementation of the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10* of FIG. 1A illustrated asautomated customized food generation machine 10 b.

FIG. 3C shows a block diagram of another implementation of the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10* of FIG. 1A illustrated asautomated customized food generation machine 10 c.

FIG. 3D shows a block diagram of a particular implementation of thenetwork device 12* of FIG. 1B, 1C, or 1D illustrated as network device12 a.

FIG. 3E shows a block diagram of a particular implementation of thenetwork device 12* of FIG. 1B, 1C, or 1D illustrated as network device12 b.

FIG. 4A shows another perspective of the user preference informationobtaining module 302* of FIG. 3A, 3B, 3D, or 3E (e.g., the userpreference information obtaining module 302′ of FIG. 3A, the userpreference information obtaining module 302″ of FIG. 3B, the userpreference information obtaining module 302′″ of FIG. 3D, or the userpreference information obtaining module 302″″ of FIG. 3E) in accordancewith various implementations.

FIG. 4B shows another perspective of the capable automated customizedfood generation machine ascertaining module 304* of FIG. 3A, 3B, 3D, or3E (e.g., the capable automated customized food generation machineascertaining module 304′ of FIG. 3A, the capable automated customizedfood generation machine ascertaining module 304″ of FIG. 3B, the capableautomated customized food generation machine ascertaining module 304′″of FIG. 3D, or the capable automated customized food generation machineascertaining module 304″″ of FIG. 3E) in accordance with variousimplementations.

FIG. 4C shows another perspective of the indicator presenting module306* of FIG. 3A, 3B, 3D, or 3E (e.g., the indicator presenting module306′ of FIG. 3A, the indicator presenting module 306″ of FIG. 3B, theindicator presenting module 306′″ of FIG. 3D, or the indicatorpresenting module 306″″ of FIG. 3E) in accordance with variousimplementations.

FIG. 5 is a high-level logic flowchart of a process, e.g., operationalflow 500, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 6A is a high-level logic flowchart of a process depicting alternateimplementations of the user preference information acquiring operation502 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6B is a high-level logic flowchart of a process depicting alternateimplementations of the user preference information acquiring operation502 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6C is a high-level logic flowchart of a process depicting alternateimplementations of the user preference information acquiring operation502 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6D is a high-level logic flowchart of a process depicting alternateimplementations of the user preference information acquiring operation502 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6E is a high-level logic flowchart of a process depicting alternateimplementations of the user preference information acquiring operation502 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6F is a high-level logic flowchart of a process depicting alternateimplementations of the user preference information acquiring operation502 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7A is a high-level logic flowchart of a process depicting alternateimplementations of the capable automated customized food generationmachine identifying operation 504 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7B is a high-level logic flowchart of a process depicting alternateimplementations of the capable automated customized food generationmachine identifying operation 504 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7C is a high-level logic flowchart of a process depicting alternateimplementations of the capable automated customized food generationmachine identifying operation 504 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7D is a high-level logic flowchart of a process depicting alternateimplementations of the capable automated customized food generationmachine identifying operation 504 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7E is a high-level logic flowchart of a process depicting alternateimplementations of the capable automated customized food generationmachine identifying operation 504 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7F is a high-level logic flowchart of a process depicting alternateimplementations of the capable automated customized food generationmachine identifying operation 504 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7G is a high-level logic flowchart of a process depicting alternateimplementations of the capable automated customized food generationmachine identifying operation 504 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7H is a high-level logic flowchart of a process depicting alternateimplementations of the capable automated customized food generationmachine identifying operation 504 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7J is a high-level logic flowchart of a process depicting alternateimplementations of the capable automated customized food generationmachine identifying operation 504 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7K is a high-level logic flowchart of a process depicting alternateimplementations of the capable automated customized food generationmachine identifying operation 504 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7L is a high-level logic flowchart of a process depicting alternateimplementations of the capable automated customized food generationmachine identifying operation 504 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8A is a high-level logic flowchart of a process depicting alternateimplementations of the indicator presenting operation 506 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8B is a high-level logic flowchart of a process depicting alternateimplementations of the indicator presenting operation 506 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8C is a high-level logic flowchart of a process depicting alternateimplementations of the indicator presenting operation 506 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8D is a high-level logic flowchart of a process depicting alternateimplementations of the indicator presenting operation 506 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8E is a high-level logic flowchart of a process depicting alternateimplementations of the indicator presenting operation 506 of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings,similar symbols typically identify similar or identical components oritems, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodimentsdescribed in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are notmeant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and otherchanges may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of thesubject matter presented here.

The claims, description, and drawings of this application may describeone or more of the instant technologies in operational/functionallanguage, for example as a set of operations to be performed by acomputer. Such operational/functional description in most instanceswould be understood by one skilled the art as specifically-configuredhardware (e.g., because a general purpose computer in effect becomes aspecial purpose computer once it is programmed to perform particularfunctions pursuant to instructions from program software).

Importantly, although the operational/functional descriptions describedherein are understandable by the human mind, they are not abstract ideasof the operations/functions divorced from computational implementationof those operations/functions. Rather, the operations/functionsrepresent a specification for the massively complex computationalmachines or other means. As discussed in detail below, theoperational/functional language must be read in its proper technologicalcontext, i.e., as concrete specifications for physical implementations.

The logical operations/functions described herein are a distillation ofmachine specifications or other physical mechanisms specified by theoperations/functions such that the otherwise inscrutable machinespecifications may be comprehensible to the human mind. The distillationalso allows one of skill in the art to adapt the operational/functionaldescription of the technology across many different specific vendors'hardware configurations or platforms, without being limited to specificvendors' hardware configurations or platforms.

Some of the present technical description (e.g., detailed description,drawings, claims, etc.) may be set forth in terms of logicaloperations/functions. As described in more detail in the followingparagraphs, these logical operations/functions are not representationsof abstract ideas, but rather representative of static or sequencedspecifications of various hardware elements. Differently stated, unlesscontext dictates otherwise, the logical operations/functions will beunderstood by those of skill in the art to be representative of staticor sequenced specifications of various hardware elements. This is truebecause tools available to one of skill in the art to implementtechnical disclosures set forth in operational/functional formats—toolsin the form of a high-level programming language (e.g., C, java, visualbasic, etc.), or tools in the form of Very high speed HardwareDescription Language (“VHDL,” which is a language that uses text todescribe logic circuits)—are generators of static or sequencedspecifications of various hardware configurations. This fact issometimes obscured by the broad term “software,” but, as shown by thefollowing explanation, those skilled in the art understand that what istermed “software” is a shorthand for a massively complexinterchaining/specification of ordered-matter elements. The term“ordered-matter elements” may refer to physical components ofcomputation, such as assemblies of electronic logic gates, molecularcomputing logic constituents, quantum computing mechanisms, etc.

For example, a high-level programming language is a programming languagewith strong abstraction, e.g., multiple levels of abstraction, from thedetails of the sequential organizations, states, inputs, outputs, etc.,of the machines that a high-level programming language actuallyspecifies. See, e.g., Wikipedia, High-level programming language,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-level_programming_language (as of Jun.5, 2012, 21:00 GMT). In order to facilitate human comprehension, in manyinstances, high-level programming languages resemble or even sharesymbols with natural languages. See, e.g., Wikipedia, Natural language,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_language (as of Jun. 5, 2012, 21:00GMT).

It has been argued that because high-level programming languages usestrong abstraction (e.g., that they may resemble or share symbols withnatural languages), they are therefore a “purely mental construct”(e.g., that “software”—a computer program or computer programming—issomehow an ineffable mental construct, because at a high level ofabstraction, it can be conceived and understood in the human mind). Thisargument has been used to characterize technical description in the formof functions/operations as somehow “abstract ideas.” In fact, intechnological arts (e.g., the information and communicationtechnologies) this is not true.

The fact that high-level programming languages use strong abstraction tofacilitate human understanding should not be taken as an indication thatwhat is expressed is an abstract idea. In fact, those skilled in the artunderstand that just the opposite is true. If a high-level programminglanguage is the tool used to implement a technical disclosure in theform of functions/operations, those skilled in the art will recognizethat, far from being abstract, imprecise, “fuzzy,” or “mental” in anysignificant semantic sense, such a tool is instead a nearincomprehensibly precise sequential specification of specificcomputational machines—the parts of which are built up byactivating/selecting such parts from typically more generalcomputational machines over time (e.g., clocked time). This fact issometimes obscured by the superficial similarities between high-levelprogramming languages and natural languages. These superficialsimilarities also may cause a glossing over of the fact that high-levelprogramming language implementations ultimately perform valuable work bycreating/controlling many different computational machines.

The many different computational machines that a high-level programminglanguage specifies are almost unimaginably complex. At base, thehardware used in the computational machines typically consists of sometype of ordered matter (e.g., traditional external linking devices(e.g., transistors), deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), quantum devices,mechanical switches, optics, fluidics, pneumatics, optical devices(e.g., optical interference devices), molecules, etc.) that are arrangedto form logic gates. Logic gates are typically physical devices that maybe electrically, mechanically, chemically, or otherwise driven to changephysical state in order to create a physical reality of Boolean logic.

Logic gates may be arranged to form logic circuits, which are typicallyphysical devices that may be electrically, mechanically, chemically, orotherwise driven to create a physical reality of certain logicalfunctions. Types of logic circuits include such devices as multiplexers,registers, arithmetic logic units (ALUs), computer memory, etc., eachtype of which may be combined to form yet other types of physicaldevices, such as a central processing unit (CPU)—the best known of whichis the microprocessor. A modern microprocessor will often contain morethan one hundred million logic gates in its many logic circuits (andoften more than a billion transistors). See, e.g., Wikipedia, Logicgates, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logic_gates (as of Jun. 5, 2012,21:03 GMT).

The logic circuits forming the microprocessor are arranged to provide amicroarchitecture that will carry out the instructions defined by thatmicroprocessor's defined Instruction Set Architecture. The InstructionSet Architecture is the part of the microprocessor architecture relatedto programming, including the native data types, instructions,registers, addressing modes, memory architecture, interrupt andexception handling, and external Input/Output. See, e.g., Wikipedia,Computer architecture,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_architecture (as of Jun. 5, 2012,21:03 GMT).

The Instruction Set Architecture includes a specification of the machinelanguage that can be used by programmers to use/control themicroprocessor. Since the machine language instructions are such thatthey may be executed directly by the microprocessor, typically theyconsist of strings of binary digits, or bits. For example, a typicalmachine language instruction might be many bits long (e.g., 32, 64, or128 bit strings are currently common). A typical machine languageinstruction might take the form “11110000101011110000111100111111” (a 32bit instruction).

It is significant here that, although the machine language instructionsare written as sequences of binary digits, in actuality those binarydigits specify physical reality. For example, if certain semiconductorsare used to make the operations of Boolean logic a physical reality, theapparently mathematical bits “1” and “0” in a machine languageinstruction actually constitute shorthand that specifies the applicationof specific voltages to specific wires. For example, in somesemiconductor technologies, the binary number “1” (e.g., logical “1”) ina machine language instruction specifies around +5 volts applied to aspecific “wire” (e.g., metallic traces on a printed circuit board) andthe binary number “0” (e.g., logical “0”) in a machine languageinstruction specifies around −5 volts applied to a specific “wire.” Inaddition to specifying voltages of the machines' configuration, suchmachine language instructions also select out and activate specificgroupings of logic gates from the millions of logic gates of the moregeneral machine. Thus, far from abstract mathematical expressions,machine language instruction programs, even though written as a stringof zeros and ones, specify many, many constructed physical machines orphysical machine states.

Machine language is typically incomprehensible by most humans (e.g., theabove example was just ONE instruction, and some personal computersexecute more than two billion instructions every second). See, e.g.,Wikipedia, Instructions per second,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instructionsper_second (as of Jun. 5, 2012,21:04 GMT). Thus, programs written in machine language—which may be tensof millions of machine language instructions long—are incomprehensible.In view of this, early assembly languages were developed that usedmnemonic codes to refer to machine language instructions, rather thanusing the machine language instructions' numeric values directly (e.g.,for performing a multiplication operation, programmers coded theabbreviation “mult,” which represents the binary number “011000” in MIPSmachine code). While assembly languages were initially a great aid tohumans controlling the microprocessors to perform work, in time thecomplexity of the work that needed to be done by the humans outstrippedthe ability of humans to control the microprocessors using merelyassembly languages.

At this point, it was noted that the same tasks needed to be done overand over, and the machine language necessary to do those repetitivetasks was the same. In view of this, compilers were created. A compileris a device that takes a statement that is more comprehensible to ahuman than either machine or assembly language, such as “add 2+2 andoutput the result,” and translates that human understandable statementinto a complicated, tedious, and immense machine language code (e.g.,millions of 32, 64, or 128 bit length strings). Compilers thus translatehigh-level programming language into machine language.

This compiled machine language, as described above, is then used as thetechnical specification which sequentially constructs and causes theinteroperation of many different computational machines such thathumanly useful, tangible, and concrete work is done. For example, asindicated above, such machine language—the compiled version of thehigher-level language—functions as a technical specification whichselects out hardware logic gates, specifies voltage levels, voltagetransition timings, etc., such that the humanly useful work isaccomplished by the hardware.

Thus, a functional/operational technical description, when viewed by oneof skill in the art, is far from an abstract idea. Rather, such afunctional/operational technical description, when understood throughthe tools available in the art such as those just described, is insteadunderstood to be a humanly understandable representation of a hardwarespecification, the complexity and specificity of which far exceeds thecomprehension of most any one human. With this in mind, those skilled inthe art will understand that any such operational/functional technicaldescriptions—in view of the disclosures herein and the knowledge ofthose skilled in the art—may be understood as operations made intophysical reality by (a) one or more interchained physical machines, (b)interchained logic gates configured to create one or more physicalmachine(s) representative of sequential/combinatorial logic(s), (c)interchained ordered matter making up logic gates (e.g., interchainedelectronic devices (e.g., transistors), DNA, quantum devices, mechanicalswitches, optics, fluidics, pneumatics, molecules, etc.) that createphysical reality representative of logic(s), or (d) virtually anycombination of the foregoing. Indeed, any physical object which has astable, measurable, and changeable state may be used to construct amachine based on the above technical description. Charles Babbage, forexample, constructed the first computer out of wood and powered bycranking a handle.

Thus, far from being understood as an abstract idea, those skilled inthe art will recognize a functional/operational technical description asa humanly-understandable representation of one or more almostunimaginably complex and time sequenced hardware instantiations. Thefact that functional/operational technical descriptions might lendthemselves readily to high-level computing languages (or high-levelblock diagrams for that matter) that share some words, structures,phrases, etc. with natural language simply cannot be taken as anindication that such functional/operational technical descriptions areabstract ideas, or mere expressions of abstract ideas. In fact, asoutlined herein, in the technological arts this is simply not true. Whenviewed through the tools available to those of skill in the art, suchfunctional/operational technical descriptions are seen as specifyinghardware configurations of almost unimaginable complexity.

As outlined above, the reason for the use of functional/operationaltechnical descriptions is at least twofold. First, the use offunctional/operational technical descriptions allows near-infinitelycomplex machines and machine operations arising from interchainedhardware elements to be described in a manner that the human mind canprocess (e.g., by mimicking natural language and logical narrativeflow). Second, the use of functional/operational technical descriptionsassists the person of skill in the art in understanding the describedsubject matter by providing a description that is more or lessindependent of any specific vendor's piece(s) of hardware.

The use of functional/operational technical descriptions assists theperson of skill in the art in understanding the described subject mattersince, as is evident from the above discussion, one could easily,although not quickly, transcribe the technical descriptions set forth inthis document as trillions of ones and zeroes, billions of single linesof assembly-level machine code, millions of logic gates, thousands ofgate arrays, or any number of intermediate levels of abstractions.However, if any such low-level technical descriptions were to replacethe present technical description, a person of skill in the art couldencounter undue difficulty in implementing the disclosure, because sucha low-level technical description would likely add complexity without acorresponding benefit (e.g., by describing the subject matter utilizingthe conventions of one or more vendor-specific pieces of hardware).Thus, the use of functional/operational technical descriptions assiststhose of skill in the art by separating the technical descriptions fromthe conventions of any vendor-specific piece of hardware.

In view of the foregoing, the logical operations/functions set forth inthe present technical description are representative of static orsequenced specifications of various ordered-matter elements, in orderthat such specifications may be comprehensible to the human mind andadaptable to create many various hardware configurations. The logicaloperations/functions disclosed herein should be treated as such, andshould not be disparagingly characterized as abstract ideas merelybecause the specifications they represent are presented in a manner thatone of skill in the art can readily understand and apply in a mannerindependent of a specific vendor's hardware implementation.

Those having skill in the art will recognize that the state of the arthas progressed to the point where there is little distinction leftbetween hardware, software, and/or firmware implementations of aspectsof systems; the use of hardware, software, and/or firmware is generally(but not always, in that in certain contexts the choice between hardwareand software can become significant) a design choice representing costvs. efficiency tradeoffs. Those having skill in the art will appreciatethat there are various vehicles by which processes and/or systems and/orother technologies described herein can be effected (e.g., hardware,software, and/or firmware), and that the preferred vehicle will varywith the context in which the processes and/or systems and/or othertechnologies are deployed. For example, if an implementer determinesthat speed and accuracy are paramount, the implementer may opt for amainly hardware and/or firmware vehicle; alternatively, if flexibilityis paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly softwareimplementation; or, yet again alternatively, the implementer may opt forsome combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware in one or moremachines, compositions of matter, and articles of manufacture, limitedto patentable subject matter under 35 USC 101. Hence, there are severalpossible vehicles by which the processes and/or devices and/or othertechnologies described herein may be effected, none of which isinherently superior to the other in that any vehicle to be utilized is achoice dependent upon the context in which the vehicle will be deployedand the specific concerns (e.g., speed, flexibility, or predictability)of the implementer, any of which may vary. Those skilled in the art willrecognize that optical aspects of implementations will typically employoptically-oriented hardware, software, and or firmware.

In some implementations described herein, logic and similarimplementations may include software or other control structures.Electronic circuitry, for example, may have one or more paths ofelectrical current constructed and arranged to implement variousfunctions as described herein. In some implementations, one or moremedia may be configured to bear a device-detectable implementation whensuch media holds or transmits device detectable instructions operable toperform as described herein. In some variants, for example,implementations may include an update or modification of existingsoftware or firmware, or of gate arrays or programmable hardware, suchas by performing a reception of or a transmission of one or moreinstructions in relation to one or more operations described herein.Alternatively or additionally, in some variants, an implementation mayinclude special-purpose hardware, software, firmware components, and/orgeneral-purpose components executing or otherwise invokingspecial-purpose components. Specifications or other implementations maybe transmitted by one or more instances of tangible transmission mediaas described herein, optionally by packet transmission or otherwise bypassing through distributed media at various times.

Alternatively or additionally, implementations may include executing aspecial-purpose instruction sequence or invoking circuitry for enabling,triggering, coordinating, requesting, or otherwise causing one or moreoccurrences of virtually any functional operations described herein. Insome variants, operational or other logical descriptions herein may beexpressed as source code and compiled or otherwise invoked as anexecutable instruction sequence. In some contexts, for example,implementations may be provided, in whole or in part, by source code,such as C++, or other code sequences. In other implementations, sourceor other code implementation, using commercially available and/ortechniques in the art, may be compiled/implemented/translated/convertedinto a high-level descriptor language (e.g., initially implementingdescribed technologies in C or C++ programming language and thereafterconverting the programming language implementation into alogic-synthesizable language implementation, a hardware descriptionlanguage implementation, a hardware design simulation implementation,and/or other such similar mode(s) of expression). For example, some orall of a logical expression (e.g., computer programming languageimplementation) may be manifested as a Verilog-type hardware description(e.g., via Hardware Description Language (HDL) and/or Very High SpeedIntegrated Circuit Hardware Descriptor Language (VHDL)) or othercircuitry model which may then be used to create a physicalimplementation having hardware (e.g., an Application Specific IntegratedCircuit). Those skilled in the art will recognize how to obtain,configure, and optimize suitable transmission or computational elements,material supplies, actuators, or other structures in light of theseteachings.

Throughout this application, examples and lists are given, withparentheses, the abbreviation “e.g.,” or both. Unless explicitlyotherwise stated, these examples and lists are merely exemplary and arenon-exhaustive. In most cases, it would be prohibitive to list everyexample and every combination. Thus, smaller, illustrative lists andexamples are used, with focus on imparting understanding of the claimterms rather than limiting the scope of such terms.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singularterms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from theplural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as isappropriate to the context and/or application. The varioussingular/plural permutations are not expressly set forth herein for sakeof clarity.

One skilled in the art will recognize that the herein describedcomponents (e.g., operations), devices, objects, and the discussionaccompanying them are used as examples for the sake of conceptualclarity and that various configuration modifications are contemplated.Consequently, as used herein, the specific exemplars set forth and theaccompanying discussion are intended to be representative of their moregeneral classes. In general, use of any specific exemplar is intended tobe representative of its class, and the non-inclusion of specificcomponents (e.g., operations), devices, and objects should not be takenas limiting.

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings,similar symbols typically identify similar or identical components oritems, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodimentsdescribed in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are notmeant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and otherchanges may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of thesubject matter presented here.

The development and evolution of food vending machine technology hasremained relatively stagnant over the last few decades even though therehave been substantial technological advancements in the fields ofmicroelectronics, automated manufacturing, and robotics. That is,today's food vending machines are not that different from vendingmachines of thirty or even forty years ago. With the exception of a verylimited number vending machines (such as coffee machines that allowusers to make certain limited customizations of their order such asmaking their coffee sweeter or adding cream), the vast majority oftoday's food vending machines do not allow any customization of customerpurchases. The vast majority of today's food vending machines only allowa user/customer to select and purchase a food item (e.g., candy bars,chips, sandwiches, drinks, and so forth) from a plurality ofready-to-eat or substantially ready-to-eat food items (note that somecurrent food vending machines do offer food items that will need to beheated using a microwave oven) and that do not allow the user tocustomize their purchased food item.

With the advancement of microelectronics, robotics, and automatedmanufacturing technologies such as 3-D (three-dimensional) printing, itis envisioned that future food vending machines will not only be able tomanufacture food items “on the spot” but will also be able to customizefood items to the specific customization preferences of users. Forexample, with the development of 3-D (three-dimensional) printingtechnology, it is envisioned that customized food bars (e.g., customizedenergy bars) may be printed for users based on their preferences (e.g.,if a user is allergic to peanuts, no peanut ingredients are used informing an energy bar for the user). It is also envisioned that with theuse of robotics, fully customized meals (e.g., customized sandwiches,breads, stews, soups, shakes, and so forth) may be manufactured usingautomated vending machines that employ robotics or other forms ofautomation.

It is also envisioned that such automated vending machines forgenerating customized foods (herein “customized food items”) will berelatively compact and therefore, will have relatively limitedingredient supplies (e.g., low-fat milk, beef from Kobe, Japan, pecans,and so forth) for generating customized food items. Consequently, theremay be many instances in which a user who wishes to consume a particularcustomized food item (e.g., a customized energy bar, a customizedsandwich, a customized shake, a customized stew, and so forth) will needto be directed to the appropriate customized food vending machine(herein “customized food generation machine”) that will have appropriateingredient supplies in sufficient quantities in order to consume acustomized food item that is in full compliance with the customizationpreferences of the user or in order to consume a substitute customizedfood item that is in partial compliance with the customizationpreferences of the user (e.g., a substitute customized food item thatsatisfies most the customization preferences of the user).

It should also be noted that many of today's sophisticated consumers arevery concerned about the integrity (e.g., purity, cleanliness, and soforth) of our food supplies. It seems as though in recent years, foodsupply contamination (e.g., salmonella, mad-cow disease, E-coli, and soforth) stories are reported on a regular basis. That is, today's foodsupplies come from a vast number of food vendors located across theglobe. For example, some of food supplies originate from countries inthe southern hemisphere that supply meats, fruits, and vegetables. Thereare also countless domestic farms and ranches throughout North Americathat supply chickens, pork, and beef. While the vegetable and fruitfarms of California and Florida supplying the rest of America with avariety of produce. It is often very difficult for end consumers to beensured that the ingredients used to make, for example, ready-to-eatfoods are of high purity and free of any disease or pesticides.

Accordingly, methods, systems, and articles of manufactures arepresented herein that are designed to, among other things, acquire orobtain user preference information of a user that indicates one or morecustomized food preferences of the user, the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user preference information including at least one ormore preferences of the user that are related to integrity of one ormore ingredients for use in generating one or more customized fooditems; identify or ascertain one or more capable automated customizedfood generation machines that have one or more ingredients in one ormore sufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item in accordance with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user; and present one or more indicators that directthe user to at least one automated customized food generation machine,the presentation of the one or more indicators being in response atleast in part to the identification. As will be further describedherein, in various embodiments such operations may be performed at anautomated customized food generation machine (e.g., a vending machinethat can dispense customized foods), while in other embodiments suchoperations may be performed at a network device (e.g., one or moreservers, a workstation, and so forth) that may be in communication withone or more automated customized food generation machines.

As will be used herein, the phrase “customized food preference” or“customized food preferences” of a user may be reference to the user'spreferences for customizing a food item. Examples of customizationpreferences include, for example, preference to use beef ingredientsfrom Kobe Japan and not from Britain, preference that aspartame be usedas a sweetener, preferences that ingredient be included in thecustomized food item are free of tree nuts, sources of ingredients suchas beef having been tested to be free of impurities such as certainbacterial agents, and so forth Other examples of customizationpreferences will be provided herein. In various embodiments referencesin the following “capable” automated customized food generationmachine[s] may be in reference to automated customized food generationmachines that have sufficient amounts of preferred ingredients insufficient quantities to be able to presently generate at least onecustomized food item in accordance with the one or more customized foodpreferences of a user

Referring now to FIG. 1A, which illustrates an exemplary automatedcustomized food generation machine 10* that is designed to generatecustomized food items 22 in accordance with customization preferences ofusers. Note that although the exemplary automated customized foodgeneration machine 10* illustrated in FIG. 1A is depicted as generatinga customized food item 22 that is in the form of an energy bar, inalternative embodiments, the exemplary automated customized foodgeneration machine 10* may generate other types of customized food items22 (e.g., customized sandwiches, customized stew, customized shakes, andso forth) having other forms. In some embodiments, the exemplaryautomated customized food generation machine 10* may be a standalonesystem that is self-contained with all of the logic needed in order toexecute the various operations to be described herein—see, for example,FIG. 5. Alternatively, at least some of the operations to be describedherein may actually be executed by a network device 12* that may be incommunication with the exemplary automated customized food generationmachines 10* as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 1B, 1C, and 1D.

Note that FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are three block diagrams of threedifferent implementations of the exemplary automated customized foodgeneration machine 10* of FIG. 1 illustrated in FIG. 3A as exemplaryautomated customized food generation machine 10 a, illustrated in FIG.3B as exemplary automated customized food generation machine 10 b, andillustrated in FIG. 3C as exemplary automated customized food generationmachine 10 c. Further note that for purposes of the followingdescription, “*” represents a wildcard. Thus, references in thefollowing description to, for example, “automated customized foodgeneration machine 10*” may be in reference to any one of, for example,the exemplary automated customized food generation machine 10 a of FIG.3A, to the exemplary automated customized food generation machine 10 bof FIG. 3B, or to the exemplary automated customized food generationmachine 10 c of FIG. 3C (and/or to the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10′, 10″, 10′″, or 10″″ of FIGS. 1B, 1C, 1D, and 1E.

Referring back to the exemplary automated customized food generationmachine 10* of FIG. 1A, the exemplary automated customized foodgeneration machine 10*, as illustrated, includes a display screen 30(which may be a touchscreen), a keypad 32, a compartment 34 fordispensing one or more customized food items 22, and a slot 36 forinserting a credit card or a Smartcard. The display screen 30 may beemployed to display (as well as to enter user input if it is atouchscreen) food menus, ingredient options, ingredient purity options(e.g., use ingredients free of pesticides), ingredient sourcing options(e.g., user only chicken ingredients from Tysons farm), and so forth. Invarious embodiments, keypad 32 may be used by a user to make selections(e.g., selection of user preferences), as well as to provide input forother types of information (e.g., user identification, credit cardinformation, dietary information, and so forth). The automatedcustomized food generation machine 10* may further include a slot 36 forreading a credit card or a Smartcard. Such cards may be a source forproviding certain user information including user identificationinformation and user preferences. Such cards, particularly Smartcards,which may have connectivity to mobile devices such as Smartphones, maybe used in order to provide other types of user data including socialdata through their connectivity to the mobile devices or directly fromsuch cards.

Referring briefly now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, which illustrate two blockdiagrams of two different implementations of the exemplary automatedcustomized food generation machine 10* of FIG. 1A when the exemplaryautomated customized food generation machine 10* is a “standalone”device that has, for example, most or all of the various logic needed inorder to execute, for example, the various functionalities to bedescribed here. In particular, FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate two extremeimplementations of the standalone implementation of the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10* of FIG. 1A in which all of thelogic modules are implemented using purely hardware solutions (e.g.,employing dedicated circuitry such as application specific integratedcircuitry or ASIC) as illustrated in FIG. 3A (e.g., illustrated in FIG.3A as automated customized food generation machine 10 a) or in which allof the logic modules are implemented using software solutions (e.g.,software executed by one or more processors or controllers) asillustrated in FIG. 3B (e.g., illustrated in FIG. 3B as automatedcustomized food generation machine 10 b).

Note that for purposes of simplicity and for ease of illustration, onlythe two extreme implementations (e.g., the “hardware” implementation asillustrated by the automated customized food generation machine 10 a ofFIG. 3A and the “software” implementation as illustrated by theautomated customized food generation machine 10 b of FIG. 3B) of thestandalone automated customized food generation machine 10* arepresented here. However, it is recognized that any combination ofsoftware and hardware solutions are possible and may be employed invarious alternative embodiments. In any event, the “standalone”automated customized food generation machine 10 a depicted in FIG. 3A isthe “hard” implementation of the standalone implementation of theautomated customized food generation machine 10* of FIG. 1A where all ofthe logic modules (e.g., the user preference information obtainingmodule 302′, the capable automated customized food generation machineascertaining module 304′, and the indicator presenting module 306′) areimplemented using purely hardware solutions (e.g., circuitry such asapplication specific integrated circuit or ASIC). In contrast, theautomated customized food generation machine 10 b of FIG. 3B is the softimplementation of the standalone implementation of the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10* of FIG. 1A where all of the logicmodules (e.g., the user preference information obtaining module 302″,the capable automated customized food generation machine ascertainingmodule 304″, and the indicator presenting module 306″) are implementedusing software solutions (e.g., programmable instructions in the form ofcomputer readable instructions 342 being executed by hardware such asone or more processors 330) as illustrated in, for example, FIG. 3B.Note that FIG. 3C illustrates a block diagram (illustrated in FIG. 3C asautomated customized food generation machine 10 c) of a particularimplementation of the automated customized food generation machine 10*of FIG. 1 when the automated customized food generation machine 10* isnot a standalone device (e.g., when one or more logic modules may beremotely located, such as at a network device 12*, as illustrated inFIG. 1B)

Turning now to FIGS. 1B, 1C, 1D, and 1E, which illustrate variousexemplary scenarios of a user 13 interacting with a network device 12*and/or with one or more automated customized food generation machines10* in accordance with various embodiments. Note that in the exemplaryscenarios illustrated in FIGS. 1B, 1C, 1D, and 1E, the network device12* or a particular automated customized food generation machine 10*will actually implement the various operations to be describedherein—see, for example, operational flow 500 of FIG. 5. Referringparticularly now to FIG. 1B, which shows a user 13 interacting with anetwork device 12* (e.g., a network system such as a server or aworkstation, or a plurality of network computers—“the cloud”) via acomputing device 15. In this scenario the user 13 is in communicationwith the network device 12* so that the network device 12* may directthe user 13 to one or more automated customized food generation machines10* that may be able to currently generate one or more customized fooditems 22 in compliance with one or more customized food preferences ofthe user 13. Although the computing device 15 is depicted in FIG. 1B asbeing in the form of a Smartphone, in alternative embodiments, thecomputing device 15 may be a workstation, desktop or laptop computer, atablet computer, a cellular telephone, and so forth.

As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the network device 12* may be incommunication with a plurality of automated customized food generationmachines 10* (e.g., automated customized food generation machine 10′,automated customized food generation machine 10″, automated customizedfood generation machine 10′″, and automated customized food generationmachine 10″″). Though not explicitly illustrated, the network device 12*may communicate with the automated customized food generation machines10* and the computing device 15 via wireless and/or wired networks. Inorder to be directed to the right or appropriate automated customizedfood generation machine 10* that has the capability of generating one ormore customized food items 22 in accordance with the customized foodpreferences of the user 13, the user 13 may provide to the networkdevice 12*, via the computing device 15, various information such asuser ID, customized food preferences, dietary information, previousmachine usage information, and so forth.

Note that for purposes of the following description, it will be assumedthat only the automated customized food generation machine 10′″ and theautomated customized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B (as well asof FIGS. 1C, 1D, and 1E) will be able to generate one or more customizedfood items 22 in accordance with (e.g., in full compliance with) the oneor more customized food preferences of the user 13 related to the one ormore customized food items 22. That is, it will be presumed that forpurposes of this description the automated customized food generationmachine 10′″ and the automated customized food generation machine 10″″(of FIGS. 1B, 1C, 1D, and 1E) have the preferred ingredients insufficient quantities to currently generate the one or more customizedfood items 22 in accordance with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user 13. Not further that for purposes of thisdescription, the automated customized food generation machine 10′″ andthe automated customized food generation machine 10″″ will be referredto as “capable” automated customized food generation machines since theyare able to currently generate one or more customized food items 22 inaccordance with the one or more customized food preferences of the user13.

Also for purposes of this description, it will be assumed that automatedcustomized food generation machine 10″ of FIG. 1B (as well as of FIGS.1C, 1D, and 1E) is only able to currently generate one or morecustomized food items 22 that are only in partial compliance with theone or more customized food preferences of the user 13. Since theautomated customized food generation machine 10″ is able to generate acustomized food item 22 only in partial compliance (which in some casesmay be substantial compliance) with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user 13, the automated customized food generationmachine 10″ will be referred to herein as a “substitute” automatedcustomized food generation machine. As will be further described herein,in some cases the user 13 may be directed to a substitute automatedcustomized food generation machine 10″ in order to purchase a“substitute” customized food item 22 even though a capable automatedcustomized food generation machines (e.g., the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10′″ and the automated customized food generationmachine 10″″) has been detected. Finally, for purposes of the followingdescription, it will be assumed that the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10′ of FIG. 1B (as well as of FIGS. 1C, 1D, and 1E)is unable to satisfactorily generate a customized food item 22 inaccordance with the one or more customized food preferences of the user13.

In any event, after the user 13, via the computing device 15, providescertain information such as user preference information (oralternatively, the user 13 may instead simply provide ausername/password to the network device 12* and the network device 12*may then retrieve user preference information from a memory based on theusername/password) to the network device 12*, the network device 12* maythen check to see which of the plurality of automated customized foodgeneration machines 10* has the preferred ingredients in sufficientquantities to currently generate one or more customized food items 22 inaccordance with the one or more customized food preferences of the user13. In some cases, such a determination may be accomplished by queryingeach of the automated customized food generation machines 10* todetermine which of the automated customized food generation machines 10*has the necessary ingredients in sufficient quantities to make the oneor more customized food items 22 that are in compliance with the one ormore customized food preferences of the user 13. Alternatively, suchinformation (e.g., information that indicates which automated customizedfood generation machines 10* has the necessary ingredients in sufficientquantities to make the one or more customized food items 22 that are incompliance with the one or more customized food preferences of the user13) may already be stored in a memory 340 (see FIG. 3D or 3E) of thenetwork device 12* (e.g., such information may have been previouslysupplied by the automated customized food generation machines 10*) inwhich case the network device 12* merely has to parse the data stored inits memory 340 in order to determine which automated customized foodgeneration machines 10* are capable automated customized food generationmachines that have the necessary ingredients in sufficient quantities tomake the one or more customized food items 22.

Based on, at least in part, the identification of one or more capableautomated customized food generation machines (e.g., the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10′″ and/or the automated customizedfood generation machine 10″″), the network device 12* may direct theuser 13, via the computing device 15, to one of the capable automatedcustomized food generation machines and/or to one or more substituteautomated customized food generation machines (e.g., automatedcustomized food generation machine 10″). As will be further describedherein, in various alternative embodiments, various other factors (otherthan determining which automated customized food generation machines 10*are capable automated customized food generation machines) may beconsidered in determining which automated customized food generationmachines 10* the user will be directed to. Examples of other factorsthat may be considered include, for example, which automated customizedfood generation machines 10* is closer to the user 13, which automatedcustomized food generation machines 10* is nearest to the historicaltravel paths of the user 13*, which automated customized food generationmachines 10* has the user 13 previously used, which substitute automatedcustomized food generation machines provides price discounts foroffering only substitute customized food items 22, and so forth.

In various embodiments, only those automated customized food generationmachines 10* that are determined to be located near the location of theuser 13 may be considered when determining which automated customizedfood generation machine 10* the user 13 should be directed to. That is,in most many situations, it is preferable to only consider nearbyautomated customized food generation machines 10* as it may beimpractical for the user 13 to travel long distances in order to obtaina customized food item 22. In some embodiments, only those automatedcustomized food generation machines 10* that are within a “shorttraveling distance” from the location of the user 13 may be considered.In some embodiments, references in the following to a “short travelingdistance” may be in reference to the distance that is traveled by a user13 in 30 minutes or less via walking, mass transit, and/or automobile.In other embodiments, a “short traveling distance” may be defined by adistance such as ½ mile, 1 mile, 2 miles, or 5 miles.

Turning now to FIG. 1C, which illustrates another scenario that is aslight variation from the scenario illustrated in FIG. 1B. In thisexample scenario of FIG. 1C, the user 13 directly interfaces orinteracts with an automated customized food generation machine 10′ in aneffort to order one or more customized food items 22. Upon determiningthat the automated customized food generation machine 10′ is unable tosatisfactorily fulfill the user's customization preferences (e.g., isunable to generate one or more customized food items that are incompliance with the one or more customized food preferences of the user13), the network device 12* determines which of the other automatedcustomized food generation machines 10* (e.g., automated customized foodgeneration machine 10″, automated customized food generation machine10′″, and/or automated customized food generation machine 10″″) arecapable automated customized food generation machines (or simply“capable machines”) that are able to generate one or more customizedfood items 22 in compliance with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user 13.

In order to identify which of the other automated customized foodgeneration machines 10* is a capable machine, the network device 12* mayquery each of the other automated customized food generation machines10* in order to ascertain which of the other automated customized foodgeneration machines 10* currently have the preferred ingredients insufficient quantities in order to make the one or more customized fooditems 22 in accordance with the one or more customized food preferencesof the user 13. Alternatively, such a determination may be based on datapreviously provided to the network device 12* by the automatedcustomized food generation machines 10* and stored in a memory 340.After one or more capable machines (e.g., the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10′″ and the automated customized food generationmachine 10″″) are identified, the network device 12* may direct the user13, via the user interface 360 (see FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C) of theautomated customized food generation machine 10′, to one or more of thecapable automated customized food generation machines (e.g., theautomated customized food generation machine 10′″ and the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10″″) and/or to one or moresubstitute automated customized food generation machines (e.g.,automated customized food generation machine 10″).

Turning now to FIG. 1D, which illustrates a scenario that is a slightvariation from the scenario illustrated in FIG. 1C. The only differencebetween the scenario illustrated in FIG. 1C and the scenario illustratedin FIG. 1D is that in the scenario illustrated in FIG. 1D the user 13communicates with the automated customized food generation machine 10′through a computing device 15 (e.g., a Smartphone, a cellular telephone,a tablet computer, a laptop, a desktop computer, and so forth). Thus,rather than the user 13 inputting user information (e.g., userpreference information, user ID/password, and so forth) directly intothe automated customized food generation machine 10′, the user 13 mayprovide user input through the computing device 15, and to receiveoutput information (e.g., identification of one or more capableautomated customized food generation machines 10′″, 10″″ and/or one ormore substitute automated customized food generation machines 10″).

Referring now to FIG. 1E, which illustrates a scenario that is a hybridscenario of the scenario illustrated in FIG. 1B and the scenarioillustrated in FIG. 1C. In the scenario of FIG. 1E, the user 13 directlyinteracts with the automated customized food generation machine 10′.Upon the user 13 interfacing with the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10′ (e.g., the user 13 trying to order a customizedfood item 22 through the automated customized food generation machine10′), the automated customized food generation machine 10′ may at leastidentify which of the other automated customized food generationmachines 10* (e.g., the automated customized food generation machine10″, the automated customized food generation machine 10′″, and theautomated customized food generation machine 10″″) are capable machinesthat have the preferred ingredients in sufficient quantities to be ableto currently generate one or more customized food items 22 in accordancewith the one or more customized food preferences of the user 13. In somecases, such an operation may be executed by querying the other automatedcustomized food generation machines 10*, or by parsing capability datastored in a memory 340 that was previously provided by the otherautomated customized food generation machines 10* and that indicates theingredient capabilities of the other automated customized foodgeneration machines 10* (e.g., the automated customized food generationmachine 10″, the automated customized food generation machine 10′″, andthe automated customized food generation machine 10″″). In someembodiments, the automated customized food generation machine 10′ mayadditionally or alternatively identify substitute automated customizedfood generation machines (e.g., automated customized food generationmachine 10″) that can only currently generate customized food items 22that only partially complies with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user 13. Based, at least in part, on theidentification of the one or more capable automated customized foodgeneration machines 10′″, 10″″ and/or one or more substitute automatedcustomized food generation machines 10″, the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10′ may direct the user 13 to (e.g., display to theuser 13) one or more automated customized food generation machines 10*.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E, which illustratesexemplary screens that may be displayed through a computing device 15(see, for example, FIG. 1B or 1D) or through an automated customizedfood generation machine 10′ (see, for example, FIG. 1C or 1E) and thatprovides indicators that direct a user 13 to one or more automatedcustomized food generation machines 10* in accordance with variousembodiments. Turning particularly now to FIG. 2A, which illustrates anexemplary screen 200 a that includes indicator 210 a that providesinformation that identifies the customized food being requested (e.g.,hamburger) and the customized food preferences (e.g., Beef from Kobe,Japan, source for the beef tested for prions, and so forth) of the user13. Exemplary screen 200 a also includes indicator 220 a that identifiescapable automated customized food generation machines 10* that aredetermined to be able to currently generate one or more customized fooditems 22 in accordance with one or more customized food preferences ofthe user 13. Indicator 220 a identifies the capable automated customizedfood generation machines 10* by machine identifier (e.g., “red vendingmachine” and “vending machine 2”), by address (e.g., “235 Main Street”),and by name of location (e.g., “Shell Gas Station” and “LakeviewMall—Food Court”). Indicator 220 a also ranks the different capableautomated customized food generation machines 10* based on theirdistances from the user 13 (e.g., Option 1 is ranked first because it isonly 745 yards away). Exemplary screen 200 a also includes a substitutemachine display button 230 that when tapped (if the screen 200 a isbeing displayed on a touchscreen) or “clicked on” will result in alisting of substitute automated customized food generation machines 10*being displayed, the substitute automated customized food generationmachines 10* that are listed being automated customized food generationmachines 10* that are only able to currently generate one or morecustomized food items 22 that are only in partial compliance with theone or more customized food preferences of the user 13.

FIG. 2D illustrates an exemplary screen 200 d that may be displayed as aresult of clicking the substitute machine display button 230 of FIG. 2A.Note that screen 200 d includes a capable machine display button 232that can be clicked or tapped on in order to return to screen 200 a ofFIG. 2A that displays the “fully capable machines” listing. Screen 200 dincludes indicator 220 d that lists/identifies substitute machines. Notethat in addition to the address information and distance information,indicator 220 d also includes non-compliance information (e.g., Beeffrom Texas rather than from Kobe, ingredient source not tested forprions, and so forth) that identifies the non-compliance of thecustomized food items 22 that can be generated by the listed substitutemachines (e.g., substitute automated customized food generation machines10*) with respect to the one or more customized food preferences of theuser 13.

FIG. 2B illustrates an exemplary screen 200 b that may be displayed uponthe user 13 selecting “option 1” of screen 200 a of FIG. 2A. As a resultof electing option 1, screen 200 b is displayed that shows directions(e.g., instructions) for traveling to the corresponding capable machine(e.g., automated customized food generation machine 10′″ or 10″″) asindicated by indicator 220 b. In contrast, indicator 210 b of FIG. 2Bidentifies the capable machine that was selected by the user 13 (e.g.,“Preferred Machine—Shell Gas Station—245 Main Street”) and the originaluser preference information (e.g., name of the food requested—hamburgerand customization preferences—beef from Kobe, Japan, source tested forprions, and so forth).

Turning now to FIG. 2C, which illustrates an exemplary screen 200 c thatincludes indicator 220 c that identifies the locations of two capableautomated customized food generation machines 10* relative to thelocation of the user 13 on a map. In particular, indicator 220 cincludes squares that indicate locations of capable automated customizedfood generation machines 10* superimposed on top of a map. Indicator 220c further includes route 232 that shows a route that the user 13 maytake in order to get to the location of one of the capable automatedcustomized food generation machines 10* from the current location of theuser 13.

Referring now to FIG. 2E, which illustrates an exemplary screen 200 ethat includes an indicator 220 e that identifies both capable machines(e.g., automated customized food generation machines 10′″ and 10″″) anda substitute machine (e.g., automated customized food generationmachines 10″). Note that indicator 220 e also indicates the prices ofthe customized food items 22 that may be generated by both the capablemachines and the substitute machine.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, which as briefly described above,illustrate two block diagrams of two different implementations of theautomated customized food generation machine 10* of FIG. 1A when theautomated customized food generation machine 10* is a standalone devicewith all of the necessary logic to perform the various operations to bedescribed below with respect to the flow process of FIG. 5. Inparticular, and as will be further described herein, FIG. 3A illustratesan automated customized food generation machine 10 a that is the“hardwired” or “hard” implementation of a standalone automatedcustomized food generation system that can implement the operations andprocesses to be described herein. The automated customized foodgeneration machine 10 a may comprise certain logic modules including,for example, a user preference information obtaining module 302′, acapable automated customized food generation machine ascertaining module304′, and/or an indicator presenting module 306′ that are implementedusing purely hardware or circuitry components (e.g., applicationspecific integrated circuit or “ASIC”). In contrast, FIG. 3B illustratesa standalone automated customized food generation machine 10 b that isthe “soft” implementation of an automated customized food generationsystem that can implement the operations and processes to be describedherein. In various embodiments, the automated customized food generationmachine 10 b may also include certain logic modules including, forexample, a user preference information obtaining module 302″, a capableautomated customized food generation machine ascertaining module 304″,and/or an indicator presenting module 306″ that are implemented usingelectronic circuitry (e.g., one or more processors 330 including one ormore microprocessors, controllers, etc.) executing one or moreprogramming instructions (e.g., software in the form of computerreadable instructions 342—see FIG. 3B).

The embodiments of the standalone automated customized food generationmachine 10* illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B are two extremeimplementations of a standalone automated customized food generationsystem in which all of the logic modules (e.g., the user preferenceinformation obtaining module 302′, the capable automated customized foodgeneration machine ascertaining module 304′, and the indicatorpresenting module 306′) are implemented using purely hardware solutions(e.g., circuitry such as ASIC) as illustrated in, for example, FIG. 3Aor in which all of the logic modules (e.g., the user preferenceinformation obtaining module 302″, the capable automated customized foodgeneration machine ascertaining module 304″, and the indicatorpresenting module 306″) are implemented using software solutions (e.g.,programmable instructions in the form of computer readable instructions342 being executed by hardware such as one or more processors 330) asillustrated in, for example, FIG. 3B. Since there are many ways ofcombining hardware, software, and/or firmware in order to implement thevarious logic modules (e.g., the user preference information obtainingmodule 302*, the capable automated customized food generation machineascertaining module 304*, and the indicator presenting module 306*),only the two extreme implementations (e.g., the purely hardware solutionas illustrated in FIG. 3A and the software solution of FIG. 3B) areillustrated here. It should be noted here that with respect to the“soft” implementation illustrated in FIG. 3B, hardware in the form ofcircuitry such as one or more processors 330 are still needed in orderto execute the software. Further details related to the twoimplementations of the standalone automated customized food generationmachine 10* illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B will be provided in greaterdetail below.

In still other implementations, the automated customized food generationmachine 10* of FIG. 1A may not actually include the various logicmodules (e.g., the user preference information obtaining module 302*,the capable automated customized food generation machine ascertainingmodule 304*, and the indicator presenting module 306*) that implementthe various operations/processes described herein. For example, theautomated customized food generation machine 10 c of FIG. 3C illustratessuch a device that does not have the various logic modules (e.g., a userpreference information obtaining module 302*, a capable automatedcustomized food generation machine ascertaining module 304*, and anindicator presenting module 306*) included in the automated customizedfood generation machine 10 a and 10 b of FIGS. 3A and 3B. Instead, suchlogic modules may be located in a remote device such as at a networkdevice 12* as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 3D and 3E. In suchimplementations, the other device (e.g., network device 12*) having thevarious logic modules (e.g., a user preference information obtainingmodule 302*, a capable automated customized food generation machineascertaining module 304*, and an indicator presenting module 306*) toperform at least some of the processes and operations to be describedherein. In various implementations, the network device 12* may be anetwork computing device (e.g., a server or a workstation) or aplurality of network devices (e.g., the cloud).

FIGS. 3D and 3E illustrates two extreme implementations of the networkdevice 12* of FIGS. 1B, 1C, and 1D in which all of the logic modules(e.g., the user preference information obtaining module 302′″, thecapable automated customized food generation machine ascertaining module304′″, and the indicator presenting module 306′″) are implemented usingpurely hardware solutions (e.g., circuitry such as ASIC) as illustratedin, for example, FIG. 3D or in which all of the logic modules (e.g., theuser preference information obtaining module 302″″, the capableautomated customized food generation machine ascertaining module 304″″,and the indicator presenting module 306″″) are implemented usingsoftware solutions (e.g., programmable instructions in the form ofcomputer readable instructions 342 being executed by hardware such asone or more processors 330) as illustrated in, for example, FIG. 3E.Again, although there are many ways to combine hardware, software,and/or firmware in order to implement the various logic modules (e.g.,the user preference information obtaining module 302*, the capableautomated customized food generation machine ascertaining module 304*,and the indicator presenting module 306*), for ease of illustration onlythe two extreme implementations (e.g., the purely hardware solution asillustrated in FIG. 3D and the software solution of FIG. 3E) areillustrated here.

In some instances, one or more components may be referred to herein as“configured to,” “configured by,” “configurable to,” “operable/operativeto,” “adapted/adaptable,” “able to,” “conformable/conformed to,”“designed to,” etc. Those skilled in the art will recognize that suchterms (e.g., “configured to”) generally encompass active-statecomponents and/or inactive-state components and/or standby-statecomponents, unless context requires otherwise.

Referring particularly now to FIG. 3A, which illustrates a block diagramof an automated customized food generation machine 10 a that includes auser preference information obtaining module 302′, a capable automatedcustomized food generation machine ascertaining module 304′, a theindicator presenting module 306′, memory 340, a communication system 350(e.g., a network interface card, a transceiver, and so forth), a userinterface 360 (e.g., a display, a speaker, and so forth), one or moreprocessors 330 (e.g., one or more microprocessors), and a customizedfood item production system 320. In some embodiments, the memory 340 maystore ingredient supply data 341 that indicates ingredient supplyinformation of one or more automated customized food generation machines10* (which in this case, may also indicate the supply information of theautomated customized food generation machine 10 a). In variousembodiments, the customized food item production system 320 may includeone or more ingredient supplies, and components for manufacturingcustomized food items including, for example, robotic components, 3-Dprinting components, heating and/or cooling components, moldingcomponents, and so forth. In some embodiments, the user interface 360may include a display screen 30 such as a touchscreen, a keypad 32, andso forth.

In various embodiments, the user preference information obtaining module302′ of the automated customized food generation machine 10 a of FIG. 3Ais a logic module that may be designed to, among other things, obtainuser preference information of a user that indicates one or morecustomized food preferences of the user, the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user preference information including at least one ormore preferences of the user that are related to integrity of one ormore ingredients for use in generating one or more customized food items22. In contrast, the capable automated customized food generationmachine ascertaining module 304′ of FIG. 3A is a logic module that maybe configured to ascertain one or more capable automated customized foodgeneration machines 10* that have one or more ingredients in one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item 22 in accordance with the one or more customizedfood preferences of the user 13. The indicator presenting module 306′ ofFIG. 3A, on the other hand, is a logic module that may be configured to,among other things, present one or more indicators that direct the userto at least one automated customized food generation machine 10*, thepresentation of the one or more indicators being in response, at leastin part, to the ascertainment.

Turning now to FIG. 3B, which illustrates a block diagram of anotherautomated customized food generation machine 10 b that can implement theoperations and processes to be described herein. As indicated earlier,the automated customized food generation machine 10 b in FIG. 3B ismerely the “soft” version of the automated customized food generationmachine 10 a of FIG. 3A because the various logic modules: the userpreference information obtaining module 302″, the capable automatedcustomized food generation machine ascertaining module 304″, and theindicator presenting module 306″ are implemented using one or moreprocessors 330 (e.g., one or more microprocessors or controllers)executing software (e.g., computer readable instructions 342) ratherthan being implemented using purely hardware (e.g., ASIC) solutions aswas the case in the automated customized food generation machine 10 a ofFIG. 3A. Thus, the user preference information obtaining module 302″,the capable automated customized food generation machine ascertainingmodule 304″, and the indicator presenting module 306″ of FIG. 3B may bedesigned to execute the same functions as the user preferenceinformation obtaining module 302′, the capable automated customized foodgeneration machine ascertaining module 304′, and the indicatorpresenting module 306′ of FIG. 3A. The automated customized foodgeneration machine 10 b, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, may include othercomponents (e.g., the user interface 360, the communication system 350,the memory 340 that stores the computer readable instructions 342, thecustomized food item production system 320, and so forth) that are thesame or similar to the other components that may be included in theautomated customized food generation machine 10 a of FIG. 3A. Note thatin the embodiment of the automated customized food generation machine 10b illustrated in FIG. 3B, the various logic modules (e.g., the userpreference information obtaining module 302″, the capable automatedcustomized food generation machine ascertaining module 304″, and theindicator presenting module 306″) may be implemented by the one or moreprocessors 330 (or other types of circuitry such as field programmablegate arrays or FPGAs) executing one or more computer readableinstructions 342 stored in memory 340.

In various embodiments, the memory 340 of the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10 a of FIG. 3A and the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10 b of FIG. 3B may comprise one or more of massstorage device, read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory(PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), cache memorysuch as random access memory (RAM), flash memory, synchronous randomaccess memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), and/or othertypes of memory devices.

FIG. 3C illustrates the automated customized food generation machine 10*of FIG. 1A (e.g., illustrated in FIG. 3C as automated customized foodgeneration machine 10 c) when the automated customized food generationmachine 10* of FIG. 1A is not a standalone device but instead, relies onanother device (e.g., the network device 12* of FIG. 1C or 1D) toprovide the various logic needed in order to, for example, obtain userpreference information of a user 13 that indicates one or morecustomized food preferences of the user 13; ascertaining one or morecapable automated customized food generation machines 10* that have oneor more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate at least one customized food item 22 in accordancewith the one or more customized food preferences of the user 13; andpresenting one or more indicators that direct the user 13 to at leastone automated customized food generation machine 10*, the presentationof the one or more indicators being in response at least in part to theascertainment. In contrast, FIGS. 3D and 3E illustrate two extremeimplementations (e.g., in which all of the logic modules are implementedusing hardware solutions as illustrated in the network device 12 a ofFIG. 3D or in which all of the logic modules are implemented usingsoftware solutions as illustrated in the network device 12 b of FIG. 3E)of the network device 12* of FIGS. 1B, 1C, and 1D. Note that both thenetwork device 12 a of FIG. 3D and the network device 12 b of FIG. FIG.3E have the same logic modules as those logic modules included in thecustomized food preparation systems 10 a and 10 b of FIGS. 3A and 3Bperforming the same or similar functionalities.

Turning now to FIG. 4A illustrating a particular implementation of theuser preference information obtaining module 302* (e.g., the userpreference information obtaining module 302′, the user preferenceinformation obtaining module 302″, the user preference informationobtaining module 302′, or the user preference information obtainingmodule 302″″) of FIG. 3A, 3B, 3D, or 3E. As illustrated, the userpreference information obtaining module 302* may include one or moresub-logic modules in various alternative implementations. For example,in various embodiments, the user preference information obtaining module302* may include a user entry obtaining module 402, a user device userpreference information obtaining module 404, a memory user preferenceinformation obtaining module 406, an internet user preferenceinformation obtaining module 408, a user proximity detecting module 410,a user affiliated determining module 412, and/or a unsatisfactoryautomated customized food generation machine determining module 414.Specific details related to the user preference information obtainingmodule 302* as well as the above-described sub-modules of the userpreference information obtaining module 302* will be provided below withrespect to the operations and processes to be described herein.

Turning now to FIG. 4B illustrating a particular implementation of thecapable automated customized food generation machine ascertaining module304* (e.g., the capable automated customized food generation machineascertaining module 304′, the capable automated customized foodgeneration machine ascertaining module 304″, the capable automatedcustomized food generation machine ascertaining module 304′″, or thecapable automated customized food generation machine ascertaining module304″″) of FIG. 3A, 3B, 3D, or 3E. As illustrated, the capable automatedcustomized food generation machine ascertaining module 304* may includeone or more sub-logic modules in various alternative implementations.For example, in various embodiments, the capable automated customizedfood generation machine ascertaining module 304* may include anautomated customized food generation machine identifier ascertainingmodule 416, an automated customized food generation machine locationascertaining module 418, a distance ascertaining module 420, a travelinstructions ascertaining module 422, a short traveling distancedetermining module 424, an automated customized food generation machinequerying module 426, a nearby automated customized food generationmachine ascertaining module 428, a substitute automated food generatingmachine ascertaining module 430, a unsatisfactory interfaced machinedetecting module 432, and/or a unsatisfactory proximity machinedetecting module 434. Specific details related to the capable automatedcustomized food generation machine ascertaining module 304* as well asthe above-described sub-modules of the capable automated customized foodgeneration machine ascertaining module 304* will be provided below withrespect to the operations and processes to be described herein.

Referring to FIG. 4C, which illustrates a particular implementation ofthe indicator presenting module 306* (e.g., the indicator presentingmodule 306′, the indicator presenting module 306″, the indicatorpresenting module 306′, or the indicator presenting module 306″″) ofFIG. 3A, 3B, 3D, or 3E. As illustrated, the indicator presenting module306* may include one or more sub-logic modules in various alternativeimplementations. For example, in various embodiments, the indicatorpresenting module 306* may include an electronic indicator communicatingmodule 436, a textual indicator presenting module 438, and/or agraphical indicator presenting module 440. Specific details related tothe indicator presenting module 306* as well as the above-describedsub-modules of the indicator presenting module 306* will be providedbelow with respect to the operations and processes to be describedherein.

In the following, various operations are presented in accordance withvarious embodiments that may be implemented by the automated customizedfood generation machine 10* of FIG. 3A, 3B, or 3C, or that may beimplemented by the network device 12* of FIG. 3D or 3E. FIG. 5, forexample, illustrates an operational flow 500 representing examplecomputationally-implemented operations that may be implemented for,among other things, identifying one or more automated customized foodgeneration machines that are able to generate at least one customizedfood item in accordance with one or more customized food preferences ofa user and presenting, in response at least in part to theidentification, one or more indicators that directs one or more users toat least one automated customized food generation machine. In someimplementations, at least some portions of these operations may beimplemented via the automated customized food generation machine 10*(e.g., the automated customized food generation machine 10 a, automatedcustomized food generation machine 10 b, or the automated customizedfood generation machine 10 c) of, for example, FIG. 3A, 3B, or 3C or viathe network device 12* (e.g., the network device 12 a or the networkdevice 12 b) of FIG. 3D or 3E.

In FIG. 5 and in the following figures that include various examples ofoperational flows, discussions and explanations will be provided withrespect to the automated customized food generation machine 10* or thenetwork device 12* described above and as illustrated in FIGS. 3A, 3B,3C, 3D, 3E, 4A, 4B, and 4C, and/or with respect to other examples (e.g.,as provided in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E) andcontexts. However, it should be understood that the operational flowsmay be executed in a number of other environments and contexts, and/orin modified versions of FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E,3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 4A, 4B, and 4C. Also, although the various operationalflows are presented in the sequence(s) illustrated, it should beunderstood that the various operations may be performed in orders otherthan those which are illustrated, or may be performed concurrently.

Further, in FIG. 5 and in the figures to follow thereafter, variousoperations may be depicted in a box-within-a-box manner. Such depictionsmay indicate that an operation in an internal box may comprise anoptional example embodiment of the operational step illustrated in oneor more external boxes. However, it should be understood that internalbox operations may be viewed as independent operations separate from anyassociated external boxes and may be performed in any sequence withrespect to all other illustrated operations, or may be performedconcurrently. Still further, these operations illustrated in FIG. 5 aswell as the other operations to be described herein are performed by atleast one of a machine, an article of manufacture, or a composition ofmatter unless indicated otherwise.

For ease of understanding, the flowcharts are organized such that theinitial flowcharts present implementations via an example implementationand thereafter the following flowcharts present alternateimplementations and/or expansions of the initial flowchart(s) as eithersub-component operations or additional component operations building onone or more earlier-presented flowcharts. Those having skill in the artwill appreciate that the style of presentation utilized herein (e.g.,beginning with a presentation of a flowchart(s) presenting an exampleimplementation and thereafter providing additions to and/or furtherdetails in subsequent flowcharts) generally allows for a rapid and easyunderstanding of the various process implementations. In addition, thoseskilled in the art will further appreciate that the style ofpresentation used herein also lends itself well to modular and/orobject-oriented program design paradigms.

In any event, after a start operation, the operational flow 500 of FIG.5 may move to a user preference information acquiring operation 502 foracquiring user preference information of a user that indicates one ormore customized food preferences of the user including at least one ormore preferences related to integrity of one or more ingredients for usein generating one or more customized food items. For instance, and asillustration, the user preference information obtaining module 302* ofthe automated customized food generation machine 10* of FIG. 3A or 3B(e.g., the user preference information obtaining module 302′ of FIG. 3Aor the user preference information obtaining module 302″ of FIG. 3B) orof the network device 12* of FIG. 3D or 3E (e.g., the user preferenceinformation obtaining module 302′″ of FIG. 3D or the user preferenceinformation obtaining module 302″″ of FIG. 3E) acquiring or obtaininguser preference information (e.g., user dietary information, userdietary preferences, user dietary restrictions, ingredient preference,and so forth) of a user 13 that indicates one or more customized foodpreferences of the user 13 including at least one or more preferencesrelated to integrity (e.g., purity of the one or more ingredients,sourcing of the one or more ingredients, and so forth) of one or moreingredients (e.g., meats, dairy products, vegetables, processedingredients such as flower, and so forth) for use in generating one ormore customized food items 22 (e.g., customized energy bars, customizedsandwiches, customized stew, and so forth).

Operational flow 500 may also include a capable automated customizedfood generation machine identifying operation 504 for identifying one ormore capable automated customized food generation machines that have oneor more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate at least one customized food item in accordance withthe one or more customized food preferences of the user. For instance,the capable automated customized food generation machine ascertainingmodule 304* of the automated customized food generation machine 10* ofFIG. 3A or 3B (e.g., the capable automated customized food generationmachine ascertaining module 304′ of FIG. 3A or the capable automatedcustomized food generation machine ascertaining module 304″ of FIG. 3B)or of the network device 12* of FIG. 3D or 3E (e.g., the capableautomated customized food generation machine ascertaining module 304′″of FIG. 3D or the capable automated customized food generation machineascertaining module 304″″ of FIG. 3E) identifying or ascertaining one ormore capable automated customized food generation machines (e.g., theautomated customized food generation machine 10′″ or the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) thathave one or more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to beable to currently generate (e.g., to have capability to generate at thetime of identification) at least one customized food item 22 inaccordance with the one or more customized food preferences of the user13.

For example, identifying or ascertaining at least one automatedcustomized food generation machine 10* that is capable of generating, atleast at the time of identification, a customized food item 22 in fullcompliance with all of the customization preferences of the user 13 asthey relate to the customized food item 22. Thus, references in thefollowing to a “capable automated customized food generation machine” orto “one or more capable automated customized food generation machines”may be in reference to automated customized food generation machines 10*that can currently (e.g., at the time of identification or ascertaining)generate one or more customized food items 22 in full compliance withone or more customized food preferences of a user 13 related to the oneor more customized food items 22. In various embodiments, the ability ofthe one or more capable automated customized food generation machines10* to generate the one or more customized food items 22 may be as aresult of having at least immediate access to (e.g., having supplies of)the necessary ingredients needed in order to generate the one or morecustomized food items 22. In contrast, references in the following to a“substitute automated customized food generation machine” or to “one ormore substitute automated customized food generation machines” may be inreference to automated customized food generation machines 10* that cancurrently generate one or more customized food items 22 that is only inpartial compliance with the one or more customized food preferences of auser 13.

Operational flow 500 may further include an indicator presentingoperation 506 for presenting, in response at least in part to theidentification, one or more indicators that direct the user to at leastone automated customized food generation machine. For instance, theindicator presenting module 306* of the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10* of FIG. 3A or 3B (e.g., the indicator presentingmodule 306′ of FIG. 3A or the indicator presenting module 306″ of FIG.3B) or of the network device 12* of FIG. 3D or 3E (e.g., the indicatorpresenting module 306′″ of FIG. 3D or the a indicator presenting module306″″ of FIG. 3E) presenting (e.g., visually and/or audibly presenting,or electronically transmitting), in response at least in part to theidentification of the one or more capable automated customized foodgeneration machines (e.g., the automated customized food generationmachine 10′″ or the automated customized food generation machine 10″″ ofFIGS. 1B, 1C, 1D, and 1E), one or more indicators 220* (see, forexample, FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, and/or 2E) that direct the user 13 to atleast one automated customized food generation machine 10*.

In various implementations, the one or more indicators 220* may “directthe user 13” to the at least one automated customized food generationmachine 10* by a variety of different means including, for example,identifying the at least one automated customized food generationmachine 10*, by providing an address for the at least one automatedcustomized food generation machine 10*, by identifying the at least onelocation of the automated customized food generation machine 10* on amap, by providing directions to the at least one automated customizedfood generation machine 10* from the location of the user 13, and soforth as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, and/or 2E.As will be further described herein, in various embodiments, the user 13may be directed to one or more “capable” automated customized foodgeneration machines (e.g., the automated customized food generationmachine 10′″ or the automated customized food generation machine 10″″ ofFIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) and/or one or more “substitute” automatedcustomized food generation machines (e.g., the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10″ of FIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) that are not capableof currently generating a customized food item 22 in full compliance ofthe one or more user preferences but that may be able to currentlygenerate a customized food item 22 that is in partial compliance of theone or more user preferences.

As will be described below, the user preference information acquiringoperation 502, the capable automated customized food generation machineidentifying operation 504, and the indicator presenting operation 506may be executed in a variety of different ways in various alternativeimplementations. FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E, and 6F for example,illustrate at least some of the alternative ways that the userpreference information acquiring operation 502 of FIG. 5 may beimplemented in various alternative implementations. In some cases, forexample, the user preference information acquiring operation 502 mayinclude an operation 602 for acquiring the user preference informationof the user by acquiring at least a portion of the user preferenceinformation from the user as illustrated in FIG. 6A. For instance, theuser preference information obtaining module 302* of the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or ofthe network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) acquiring the userpreference information of the user 13 by acquiring or obtaining at leasta portion of the user preference information from the user 13 (e.g.,preference information as entered by the user 13).

In various implementations, operation 602 may further include one ormore additional operations including, in some cases, an operation 603for acquiring the at least a portion of the user preference informationfrom the user by acquiring one or more entries entered by the userthrough a user interface of an automated customized food generationmachine that is designed to generate customized food items. Forinstance, the user preference information obtaining module 302*including the user entry obtaining module 402 (see FIG. 4A) of theautomated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) acquiringthe at least a portion of the user preference information from the user13 by having the user entry obtaining module 402 acquire or obtain oneor more entries entered by the user 13 through a user interface 360 ofan automated customized food generation machine 10* that is designed togenerate customized food items 22 in accordance with user customizationpreferences.

In some implementations, operation 603 may further include an operation604 for acquiring the one or more entries entered by the user throughthe user interface of an automated customized food generation machine byacquiring one or more selections entered by the user from a plurality ofalternative options presented through the user interface. For instance,the user entry obtaining module 402 of the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) acquiring the one or more entriesentered by the user 13 through the user interface 360 of an automatedcustomized food generation machine 10* by acquiring or obtaining one ormore selections entered by the user 13 from a plurality of alternativeoptions presented through the user interface 360 (e.g., a touchscreen, akeyboard, a microphone, and so forth).

In some cases, operation 602 may include an operation 605 for acquiringthe at least a portion of the user preference information from the userby acquiring the at least a portion of the user preference informationfrom one or more devices associated with the user. For instance, theuser preference information obtaining module 302* including the userdevice user preference information obtaining module 404 (see FIG. 4A) ofthe automated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3Aor 3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) acquiringthe at least a portion of the user preference information from the user13 by having the user device user preference information obtainingmodule 404 acquire or obtain the at least a portion of the userpreference information from one or more devices (e.g., a mobilecomputing device such as a tablet computer or a Smartphone, or aSmartcard) associated with the user 13.

In some implementations, operation 605 may actually involve an operation606 for acquiring the at least a portion of the user preferenceinformation from the one or more devices associated with the user byacquiring at least a portion of the user preference information from oneor more of a credit card, a smart card, and/or a mobile computing deviceassociated with the user. For instance, the user device user preferenceinformation obtaining module 404 of the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) acquiring the at least a portionof the user preference information from the one or more devicesassociated with the user 13 by acquiring or obtaining at least a portionof the user preference information (e.g., user ID, user preferences,user dietary information, etc.) from one or more of a credit card, asmart card, and/or a mobile computing device associated with the user13.

In various implementations, the user preference information acquiringoperation 502 may actually include an operation 607 for acquiring theuser preference information of the user by retrieving at least a portionof the user preference information from a memory based, at least inpart, on one or more user identifications provided by the user. Forinstance, the user preference information obtaining module 302*including the memory user preference information obtaining module 406(see FIG. 4A) of the automated customized food generation machine 10 aor 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG.3D or 3E) acquiring the user preference information of the user 13 byhaving the memory user preference information obtaining module 406retrieve or obtain at least a portion of the user preference informationfrom a memory 340 based, at least in part, on one or more useridentifications (e.g., username, password, credit card number, and soforth) directly or indirectly provided by the user 13. For example, theuser 13 may directly input user identification information via a userinterface 360 of an automated customized food generation machine 10* orvia a computing device 15, which may already have such useridentification information stored in memory. Based on the obtained useridentification information, user preference information may beretrieved.

In the same or alternative implementations, the user preferenceinformation acquiring operation 502 may include an operation 608 foracquiring the user preference information of the user by retrieving atleast a portion of the user preference information from the internetbased, at least in part, on one or more user identifications provided bythe user. For instance, the user preference information obtaining module302* including the internet user preference information obtaining module408 (see FIG. 4A) of the automated customized food generation machine 10a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b ofFIG. 3D or 3E) acquiring the user preference information of the user 13by having the internet user preference information obtaining module 408retrieve or obtain at least a portion of the user preference informationfrom the internet based, at least in part, on one or more useridentifications (e.g., username, email address, password, and so forth)provided by the user 13.

In some cases, operation 608 may further include an operation 609 forretrieving at least the portion of the user preference information fromone or more social networking websites based, at least in part, on oneor more user identifications provided by the user. For instance, theinternet user preference information obtaining module 408 of theautomated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) retrievingor obtaining at least the portion of the user preference informationfrom one or more social networking websites (e.g., Facebook, Twitter,and so forth) based, at least in part, on one or more useridentifications directly or indirectly provided by the user 13.

Turning to FIG. 6B, in the same or alternative implementations, the userpreference information acquiring operation 502 may include an operation610 for acquiring the user preference information of the user byacquiring the user preference information in response to detecting thatthe user being in proximity of one or more automated customized foodgeneration machines that are designed to generate customized food items.For instance, the user preference information obtaining module 302*including the user proximity detecting module 410 (see FIG. 4A) of theautomated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) acquiringthe user preference information of the user 13 by acquiring or obtainingthe user preference information in response to the user proximitydetecting module 410 detecting that the user 13 being in proximity(e.g., within 20 or 30 feet) of one or more automated customized foodgeneration machines 10* that are designed to generate customized fooditems 22.

In some cases, operation 610 may further include an operation 611 foracquiring the user preference information in response to detecting thatthe user being in proximity of the one or more automated customized foodgeneration machines by acquiring the user preference information inresponse to detecting that the user is approaching the one or moreautomated customized food generation machines. For instance, the userpreference information obtaining module 302* including the userproximity detecting module 410 of the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) acquiring the user preferenceinformation in response to detecting, by the user proximity detectingmodule 410, that the user 13 being in proximity (e.g., within 30 feet)of the one or more automated customized food generation machines 10* byacquiring or obtaining the user preference information in response todetecting, by the user proximity detecting module 410, that the user 13is approaching or nearing the one or more automated customized foodgeneration machines 10*.

In various implementations, the user preference information acquiringoperation 502 may include an operation 612 for acquiring the userpreference information of the user by acquiring user preferenceinformation of a user who is using one or more automated customized foodgeneration machines in order to request for one or more customized fooditems. For instance, the user preference information obtaining module302* of the automated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b ofFIG. 3A or 3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E)acquiring the user preference information of the user 13 by acquiring orobtaining user preference information of a user 13 who is using (e.g.,engaged with) one or more automated customized food generation machines10* in order to request for (e.g., “order” or “purchase”) one or morecustomized food items 22.

In the same or alternative implementations, the user preferenceinformation acquiring operation 502 may include an operation 613 foracquiring user preference information of the user including acquiringuser preference information of a second user that indicates one or morecustomized food preferences of the second user related to another one ormore customized food items, the second user and the user having beendetermined to be affiliated with each other. For instance, the userpreference information obtaining module 302* including the useraffiliated determining module 412 (see FIG. 4A) of the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or ofthe network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) acquiring userpreference information of the user 13 including acquiring or obtaininguser preference information of a second user (not illustrated) thatindicates one or more customized food preferences of the second userrelated to another one or more customized food items 22, the second userand the user 13 (e.g., the first user) having been determined by theuser affiliated determining module 412, to be affiliated with eachother. In some cases, collecting user preference information formultiple users 13 who are determined to be affiliated with each other(e.g., a group of friends out for lunch or snack) may facilitate indirecting the multiple users 13 to appropriate one or more automatedcustomized food preparation machines 10*.

As further illustrated in FIG. 6B, operation 613 may further include oneor more additional operations in various implementations including insome cases, an operation 614 for determining that the user and thesecond user are affiliated with each other based, at least in part, oninformation provided by one or more social networking sites. Forinstance, the user affiliated determining module 412 of the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or ofthe network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) determining that theuser 13 and the second user are affiliated with each other based, atleast in part, on information provided by one or more social networkingsites (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Friendster, and so forth).

In some implementations, operation 613 nay additionally or alternativelyinclude an operation 615 for determining that the user and the seconduser are affiliated with each other based, at least in part, oninformation provided by one or more devices associated with at least oneof the user or the second user. For instance, the user affiliateddetermining module 412 of the automated customized food generationmachine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the network device 12 a or12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) determining that the user 13 and the second userare affiliated with each other based, at least in part, on informationprovided by one or more devices (e.g., a Smartphone, a Smartcard, atablet computer, and so forth) associated with at least one of the user13 or the second user.

Turning now to FIG. 6C, in various implementations, the user preferenceinformation acquiring operation 502 of FIG. 5 may include an operation616 for acquiring the user preference information of the user thatindicates one or more customized food preferences of the user byacquiring user dietary preference information of the user that indicatesone or more dietary preferences of the user. For instance, the userpreference information obtaining module 302* of the automated customizedfood generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) acquiring the user preferenceinformation of the user 13 that indicates one or more customized foodpreferences of the user 13 by acquiring or obtaining user dietarypreference information of the user 13 that indicates one or more dietarypreferences (e.g., preference for chicken instead of beef, preferencefor not getting chicken from Tyson's farm, preference for whole branbreads, preference for aspartame as sweetener, and so forth) of the user13.

As further illustrated in FIG. 6C, in various implementations, operation616 may include one or more additional operations including, in somecases, an operation 617 for acquiring the user dietary preferenceinformation of the user that indicates the one or more dietarypreferences of the user by acquiring user dietary information of theuser that indicates one or more customized food item preferences of theuser for immediate consumption by the user. For instance, the userpreference information obtaining module 302* of the automated customizedfood generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) acquiring the user dietarypreference information of the user 13 that indicates the one or moredietary preferences of the user 13 by acquiring or obtaining userdietary information of the user 13 that indicates one or more customizedfood item preferences (e.g., energy bar, hamburger, beef stew, and soforth) of the user 13 for immediate consumption by the user 13.

In the same or alternative implementations, operation 616 mayadditionally or alternatively include an operation 618 for acquiring theuser dietary preference information of the user that indicates the oneor more dietary preferences of the user by acquiring user dietaryinformation of the user that indicates one or more heating or coolingpreferences of the user related to one or more ingredients of at leastone customized food item. For instance, the user preference informationobtaining module 302* of the automated customized food generationmachine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the network device 12 a or12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) acquiring the user dietary preference informationof the user 13 that indicates the one or more dietary preferences of theuser 13 by acquiring or obtaining user dietary information of the user13 that indicates one or more heating or cooling preferences of the user13 related to one or more ingredients (e.g., hamburger meat, milk, icecream, and so forth) of at least one customized food item 22 (e.g.,hamburger sandwich, milk shake, and so forth).

In the same or alternative implementations, operation 616 mayadditionally or alternatively include an operation 619 for acquiring theuser dietary preference information of the user that indicates the oneor more dietary preferences of the user by acquiring one or more tasteor flavor preferences of the user. For instance, the user preferenceinformation obtaining module 302* of the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) acquiring the user dietarypreference information of the user 13 that indicates the one or moredietary preferences of the user 13 by acquiring or obtaining one or moretaste or flavor preferences of the user 13.

In the same or alternative implementations, operation 616 mayadditionally or alternatively include an operation 620 for acquiring theuser dietary preference information of the user that indicates the oneor more dietary preferences of the user by acquiring one or moreingredient preferences of the user. For instance, the user preferenceinformation obtaining module 302* of the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) acquiring the user dietarypreference information of the user 13 that indicates the one or moredietary preferences of the user 13 by acquiring or obtaining one or moreingredient preferences (e.g., non-fat milk, salt but no pepper,aspartame rather than saccharine, and so forth) of the user.

In the same or alternative implementations, operation 616 mayadditionally or alternatively include an operation an operation 621 foracquiring the user dietary preference information of the user thatindicates the one or more dietary preferences of the user by acquiringone or more dietary schedules of the user. For instance, the userpreference information obtaining module 302* of the automated customizedfood generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) acquiring the user dietarypreference information of the user 13 that indicates the one or moredietary preferences of the user 13 by acquiring or obtaining one or moredietary schedules (e.g., dietary plans) of the user 13.

In the same or alternative implementations, operation 616 mayadditionally or alternatively include an operation 622 for acquiring theuser dietary preference information of the user that indicates the oneor more dietary preferences of the user by acquiring one or more dietaryrestrictions of the user. For instance, the user preference informationobtaining module 302* of the automated customized food generationmachine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the network device 12 a or12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) acquiring the user dietary preference informationof the user 13 that indicates the one or more dietary preferences of theuser 13 by acquiring or obtaining one or more dietary restrictions(e.g., no peanuts, no dairy products, and so forth) of the user 13.

In the same or alternative implementations, operation 616 mayadditionally or alternatively include an operation 623 for acquiring theuser dietary preference information of the user that indicates the oneor more dietary preferences of the user by acquiring one or more dietaryneeds of the user. For instance, the user preference informationobtaining module 302* of the automated customized food generationmachine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the network device 12 a or12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) acquiring the user dietary preference informationof the user 13 that indicates the one or more dietary preferences of theuser 13 by acquiring or obtaining one or more dietary needs (e.g.,vitamin D enriched ingredients, high fiber diet, and so forth) of theuser 13.

Referring to FIG. 6D, in various implementations, the user preferenceinformation acquiring operation 502 of FIG. 5 may include an operation624 for acquiring the user preference information of the user includingacquiring historical dietary information associated with the user. Forinstance, the user preference information obtaining module 302* of theautomated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) acquiringthe user preference information of the user 13 including acquiring orobtaining historical dietary information (e.g., previous foodconsumption data of the user 13) associated with the user 13.

In some implementations, operation 624 may include an operation 625 foracquiring the historical dietary information associated with the user byacquiring historical dietary consumption data of the user during one ormore predefined time spans. For instance, the user preferenceinformation obtaining module 302* of the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) acquiring the historical dietaryinformation associated with the user 13 by acquiring or obtaininghistorical dietary consumption data of the user 13 during one or morepredefined (e.g., specified) time spans (e.g., one day, one week, twoweeks, and so forth).

In various implementations, the user preference information acquiringoperation 502 may include an operation 626 for acquiring the userpreference information of the user that includes the one or morepreferences related to the integrity of the one or more ingredients foruse in generating the one or more customized food items by acquiringuser preference information that includes one or more preferencesrelated to purity of the one or more ingredients for use in generatingthe one or more customized food items. For instance, the user preferenceinformation obtaining module 302* of the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) acquiring the user preferenceinformation of the user 13 that includes the one or more preferencesrelated to the integrity of the one or more ingredients for use ingenerating the one or more customized food items 22 by acquiring orobtaining user preference information that includes one or morepreferences related to purity (e.g., cleanliness as it relates topresence or absence of impurities such as bacteria, virus, heavy metals,and so forth) of the one or more ingredients (e.g., meat ingredients,vegetable ingredients, processed ingredients such as flour or sugar, andso forth) for use in generating the one or more customized food items22.

In some cases, operation 626 may further include an operation 627 foracquiring the user preference information that includes the one or morepreferences related to the purity of the one or more ingredients for usein generating the one or more customized food items by acquiring userpreference information that includes one or more preferences that one ormore sources for the one or more ingredients were tested for presence orabsence of one or more impurities. For instance, the user preferenceinformation obtaining module 302* of the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) acquiring the user preferenceinformation that includes the one or more preferences related to thepurity of the one or more ingredients for use in generating the one ormore customized food items 22 by acquiring or obtaining user preferenceinformation that includes one or more preferences that one or moresources (e.g., a farm, a harvest or crop, a cow, and so forth) for theone or more ingredients (e.g., meat ingredient, a dairy ingredient, avegetable ingredient, and so forth) were tested for presence or absenceof one or more impurities (e.g., bacteria, heavy metal, pesticides, andso forth).

In some implementations, the user preference information acquiringoperation 502 may include an operation 628 for acquiring the userpreference information of the user that includes the one or morepreferences related to the integrity of the one or more ingredients foruse in generating the one or more customized food items by acquiringuser preference information that includes one or more user preferencesthat the one or more ingredients for use in generating the one or morecustomized food items were obtained from one or more specified sourcesand/or from one or more specified locations. For instance, the userpreference information obtaining module 302* of the automated customizedfood generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) acquiring the user preferenceinformation of the user 13 that includes the one or more preferencesrelated to the integrity of the one or more ingredients for use ingenerating the one or more customized food items 22 by acquiring orobtaining user preference information that includes one or more userpreferences that the one or more ingredients for use in generating theone or more customized food items 22 were obtained from one or morespecified sources (e.g., Tysons) and/or from one or more specifiedlocations (e.g., Kobe, Japan).

In some implementations, the user preference information acquiringoperation 502 may include an operation 629 for acquiring the userpreference information of the user that includes the one or morepreferences related to the integrity of the one or more ingredients foruse in generating the one or more customized food items by acquiringuser preference information that includes one or more user preferencesthat the one or more ingredients for use in generating the one or morecustomized food items were not obtained from one or more specifiedsources and/or one or more specified locations. For instance, the userpreference information obtaining module 302* of the automated customizedfood generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) acquiring the user preferenceinformation of the user 13 that includes the one or more preferencesrelated to the integrity of the one or more ingredients for use ingenerating the one or more customized food items 22 by acquiring orobtaining user preference information that includes one or more userpreferences that the one or more ingredients for use in generating theone or more customized food items 22 were not obtained from one or morespecified sources (e.g., Oscar Meyer) and/or one or more specifiedlocations (e.g., Britain).

Referring now to FIG. 6E, in some implementations, the user preferenceinformation acquiring operation 502 of FIG. 5 may include an operation630 for acquiring the user preference information of the user includinginformation indicating historical travel or movement information of theuser. For instance, the user preference information obtaining module302* of the automated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b ofFIG. 3A or 3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E)acquiring the user preference information of the user 13 includinginformation indicating acquiring or obtaining historical travel ormovement information (e.g., previous travel paths or routes) of the user13. In some cases, obtaining such information may be useful indetermining which automated customized food generation machine 10* theuser 13 should be directed to.

In the same or alternative implementations, the user preferenceinformation acquiring operation 502 may additionally or alternativeinclude an operation 631 for acquiring the user preference informationof the user including historical usage information indicating historicaluser usage of one or more automated customized food generation machines.For instance, the user preference information obtaining module 302* ofthe automated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3Aor 3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) acquiringor obtaining the user preference information of the user 13 includinghistorical usage information indicating historical user usage of one ormore automated customized food generation machines 10*. For example,acquiring user preference information of the user 13 that indicateswhich automated customized food generation machines 10* were previouslyused by the user 13.

In the same or alternative implementations, the user preferenceinformation acquiring operation 502 may additionally or alternativeinclude an operation 632 for acquiring the user preference informationincluding historical response information indicating one or morehistorical user responses of the user in response to one or morecustomized food generation machine recommendations previously presentedto the user that recommended to the user one or more specific automatedcustomized food generation machines for use by the user. For instance,the user preference information obtaining module 302* of the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or ofthe network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) acquiring or obtainingthe user preference information including historical responseinformation indicating one or more historical user responses of the user13 in response to one or more customized food generation machinerecommendations previously presented to the user 13 that recommended tothe user 13 one or more specific automated customized food generationmachines 10* for use by the user 13.

Turning to FIG. 6F, in various implementations, the user preferenceinformation acquiring operation 502 of FIG. 5 may additionally oralternative include an operation 633 for acquiring the user preferenceinformation of the user by acquiring at least a portion of the userpreference information in response, at least in part, to determiningthat an automated customized food generation machine that is designed togenerate customized food items is unable to currently generate one ormore customized food items in accordance with at least one customizedfood preference of the user. For instance, the user preferenceinformation obtaining module 302* including the unsatisfactory automatedcustomized food generation machine determining module 414 (see FIG. 6F)of the automated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG.3A or 3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E)acquiring the user preference information of the user 13 by acquiring orobtaining at least a portion of the user preference information inresponse, at least in part, to determining by, for example, theunsatisfactory automated customized food generation machine determiningmodule 414 that an automated customized food generation machine (e.g.,the automated customized food generation machine 10′ of FIG. 1C or 1Dthat the user 13 is interfacing with) that is designed to generatecustomized food items 22 is unable to currently generate (e.g., unableto generate proximately to when the user preference information is beingacquired) one or more customized food items 22 in accordance with (e.g.,in full compliance with) at least one customized food preference of theuser 13.

In some cases, operation 633 may, in turn, further include an operation634 for acquiring at least the portion of the user preferenceinformation in response, at least in part, to determining that theautomated customized food generation machine does not at least havesufficient quantity or quantities of one or more preferred ingredientsthat are preferred by the user to be able to currently generate one ormore customized food items in accordance with at least one customizedfood preference of the user. For instance, the user preferenceinformation obtaining module 302* including the unsatisfactory automatedcustomized food generation machine determining module 414 of theautomated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) acquiring orobtaining at least the portion of the user preference information inresponse at least in part to determining by, for example, theunsatisfactory automated customized food generation machine determiningmodule 414 that the automated customized food generation machine (e.g.,the automated customized food generation machine 10′ of FIG. 1C or 1Dthat the user 13 is interfacing with) does not at least have sufficientquantity or quantities of one or more preferred ingredients (e.g., meatfrom a cattle heart that was tested for prions) that are preferred bythe user 13 to be able to currently generate one or more customized fooditems 22 in accordance with at least one customized food preference ofthe user 13.

In some cases, operation 633 may include an operation 635 for acquiringat least the portion of the user preference information in response, atleast in part, to determining that the automated customized foodgeneration machine that is designed to generate customized food itemsand that is in the proximate vicinity of the user is unable to currentlygenerate one or more customized food items in accordance with at leastone customized food preference of the user. For instance, the userpreference information obtaining module 302* including theunsatisfactory automated customized food generation machine determiningmodule 414 of the automated customized food generation machine 10 a or10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3Dor 3E) acquiring or obtaining at least the portion of the userpreference information in response, at least in part, to determining by,for example, the unsatisfactory automated customized food generationmachine determining module 414 that the automated customized foodgeneration machine (e.g., the automated customized food generationmachine 10′ of FIG. 1C or 1D that the user 13 is interfacing with) thatis designed to generate customized food items 22 and that is in theproximate vicinity (e.g., within 30 feet) of the user 13 is to currentlygenerate one or more customized food items 22 in accordance with atleast one customized food preference of the user 13.

In some cases, operation 633 may include an operation 636 for acquiringat least the portion of the user preference information in response, atleast in part, to determining that the automated customized foodgeneration machine that is designed to generate customized food itemsand that is interfacing with the user is unable to currently generateone or more customized food items in accordance with at least onecustomized food preference of the user. For instance, the userpreference information obtaining module 302* including theunsatisfactory automated customized food generation machine determiningmodule 414 of the automated customized food generation machine 10 a or10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3Dor 3E) acquiring or obtaining at least the portion of the userpreference information in response, at least in part, to determining by,for example, the unsatisfactory automated customized food generationmachine determining module 414 that the automated customized foodgeneration machine (e.g., the automated customized food generationmachine 10′ of FIG. 1C or 1D that the user 13 is interfacing with) thatis designed to generate customized food items 22 and that is interfacing(e.g., interacting) with the user 13 is unable to currently generate oneor more customized food items 22 in accordance with at least onecustomized food preference of the user 13.

Referring back to the capable automated customized food generationmachine identifying operation 504 of FIG. 5, the capable automatedcustomized food generation machine identifying operation 504 similar tothe user preference information acquiring operation 502 of FIG. 5 may beexecuted in a number of different ways in various alternativeembodiments as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, 7E,7F, 7G, 7H, 7J, 7K, and 7L. In some cases, for example, the capableautomated customized food generation machine identifying operation 504may actually include or involve an operation 737 for identifying the oneor more capable automated customized food generation machines bydetermining one or more identifiers of the one or more capable automatedcustomized food generation machines that have the one or moreingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate the at least one customized food item in accordancewith the one or more customized food preferences of the user. Forinstance, the capable automated customized food generation machineascertaining module 304* including the automated customized foodgeneration machine identifier ascertaining module 416 (see FIG. 4B) ofthe automated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3Aor 3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E)identifying the one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines by having, for example, the automated customized foodgeneration machine identifier ascertaining module 416 determine orascertain one or more identifiers (e.g., machine number, IP address,etc.) of the one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines (e.g., the automated customized food generation machine 10′″ orthe automated customized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C,1D, or 1E) that have the one or more ingredients in the one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate (e.g., to be ableto generate at time of the identification) the at least one customizedfood item 22 in accordance with (e.g., in full compliance with) the oneor more customized food preferences of the user 13 as they relate to theat least one customized food item 22.

In the same or alternative implementations, the capable automatedcustomized food generation machine identifying operation 504 mayadditionally or alternatively include an operation 738 for identifyingthe one or more capable automated customized food generation machines bydetermining one or more locations of the one or more capable automatedcustomized food generation machines that have the one or moreingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate the at least one customized food item in accordancewith the one or more customized food preferences of the user. Forinstance, the capable automated customized food generation machineascertaining module 304* including the automated customized foodgeneration machine location ascertaining module 418 (see FIG. 4B) of theautomated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) identifyingthe one or more capable automated customized food generation machines byhaving, for example, the automated customized food generation machinelocation ascertaining module 418 determine or ascertain one or morelocations (e.g., addresses or geographical locations such as latitudeand longitude) of the one or more capable automated customized foodgeneration machines (e.g., the automated customized food generationmachine 10′″ or the automated customized food generation machine 10″″ ofFIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) that have the one or more ingredients in the oneor more sufficient quantities to be able to currently generate the atleast one customized food item 22 in accordance with the one or morecustomized food preferences of the user 13.

In the same or alternative implementations, the capable automatedcustomized food generation machine identifying operation 504 mayadditionally or alternatively include an operation 739 for identifyingthe one or more capable automated customized food generation machines bydetermining one or more distances between the user and the one or morecapable automated customized food generation machines that have the oneor more ingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to be ableto currently generate the at least one customized food item inaccordance with the one or more customized food preferences of the user.For instance, the capable automated customized food generation machineascertaining module 304* including the distance ascertaining module 420(see FIG. 4B) of the automated customized food generation machine 10 aor 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG.3D or 3E) identifying the one or more capable automated customized foodgeneration machines by having, for example, the distance ascertainingmodule 420 determine or ascertain one or more distances between the user13 and the one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines (e.g., the automated customized food generation machine 10′″ orthe automated customized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C,1D, or 1E) that have the one or more ingredients in the one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate the at least onecustomized food item 22 in accordance with the one or more customizedfood preferences of the user 13. In some cases, such information (e.g.,distance between the user 13 and the one or more capable automatedcustomized food generation machines 10*) may then be presented to theuser 13 in order to assist the user 13 in selecting an automatedcustomized food generation machine 10* for usage.

In the same or alternative implementations, the capable automatedcustomized food generation machine identifying operation 504 mayadditionally or alternatively include an operation 740 for identifyingthe one or more capable automated customized food generation machines bydetermining one or more instructions for traveling to the one or morecapable automated customized food generation machines from one or morelocations of the one or more users. For instance, the capable automatedcustomized food generation machine ascertaining module 304* includingthe travel instructions ascertaining module 422 (see FIG. 4B) of theautomated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) identifyingthe one or more capable automated customized food generation machines(e.g., the automated customized food generation machine 10′″ or theautomated customized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or1E) by having, for example, the travel instructions ascertaining module422 determine or ascertain one or more instructions (e.g., directions)for traveling to the one or more capable automated customized foodgeneration machines 10* from one or more locations of the one or moreusers 13.

Turning now to FIG. 7B, the capable automated customized food generationmachine identifying operation 504 of FIG. 5 may include an operation 741for identifying the one or more capable automated customized foodgeneration machines that have the one or more ingredients in the one ormore sufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least theone customized food item in accordance with the one or more customizedfood preferences of the user by identifying one or more capableautomated customized food generation machines that are determined to belocated within a short traveling distance from a location of the userand that have one or more ingredients in one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized fooditem in accordance with the one or more customized food preferences ofthe user in various implementations. For instance, the capable automatedcustomized food generation machine ascertaining module 304* includingthe short traveling distance ascertaining module 424 (see FIG. 4B) ofthe automated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3Aor 3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E)identifying the one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines that have the one or more ingredients in the one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least the onecustomized food item 22 in accordance with the one or more customizedfood preferences of the user 13 by identifying or ascertaining one ormore capable automated customized food generation machines (e.g., theautomated customized food generation machine 10′″ or the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) thatare, for example, determined by the short traveling distanceascertaining module 424 to be located within a short traveling distance(e.g., walking, mass transit, and/or driving distance such as within ½mile to 5 miles) from a location of the user 13 and that have one ormore ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate at least one customized food item 22 in accordancewith the one or more customized food preferences of the user 13.

In some cases, operation 741 may include an operation 742 foridentifying one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines that are determined to be located within a distancecorresponding to a maximum distance traveled by a user via walking, masstransit, and/or automobile in 30 minutes and that have one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item in accordance with the one ormore customized food preferences of the user. For instance, the capableautomated customized food generation machine ascertaining module 304*including the short traveling distance ascertaining module 424 of theautomated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) identifyingor ascertaining one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines (e.g., the automated customized food generation machine 10′″ orthe automated customized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C,1D, or 1E) that are, for example, determined by the short travelingdistance ascertaining module 424 to be located within a distancecorresponding to a maximum distance traveled by a user 13 by walking,mass transit, and/or automobile in 30 minutes and that have one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item 22 in accordance with the oneor more customized food preferences of the user 13.

In some cases, operation 741 may include an operation 743 foridentifying one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines that are determined to be located within five miles from thelocation of the user and that have one or more ingredients in one ormore sufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item in accordance with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user. For instance, the capable automated customizedfood generation machine ascertaining module 304* including the shorttraveling distance ascertaining module 424 of the automated customizedfood generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) identifying or ascertaining one ormore capable automated customized food generation machines (e.g., theautomated customized food generation machine 10′″ or the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) thatare determined, for example, by the short traveling distanceascertaining module 424, to be located within five miles from thecurrent location of the user 13 and that have one or more ingredients inone or more sufficient quantities to be able to currently generate atleast one customized food item 22 in accordance with the one or morecustomized food preferences of the user 13.

In the same or alternative implementations, the capable automatedcustomized food generation machine identifying operation 504 may includean operation 744 for identifying the one or more capable automatedcustomized food generation machines that have the one or moreingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate the at least one customized food item in accordancewith the one or more customized food preferences of the user, theidentification being based on data stored in a memory, the data havingbeen previously supplied to the memory by one or more automatedcustomized food generation machines and indicating ingredient supplystatuses of the one or more automated customized food generationmachines. For instance, the capable automated customized food generationmachine ascertaining module 304* of the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) identifying or ascertaining theone or more capable automated customized food generation machines (e.g.,the automated customized food generation machine 10′″ or the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) thathave the one or more ingredients in the one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate the at least one customizedfood item 22 in accordance with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user 13, the identification or ascertainment beingbased on data stored in a memory 340, the data having been previouslysupplied to the memory 340 by one or more automated customized foodgeneration machines 10* and indicating ingredient supply statuses of theone or more automated customized food generation machines 10*.

Referring to FIG. 7C, in various implementations, the capable automatedcustomized food generation machine identifying operation 504 may includean operation 745 for identifying the one or more capable automatedcustomized food generation machines that have the one or moreingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate the at least one customized food item in accordancewith the one or more customized food preferences of the user by queryingone or more automated customized food generation machines in order todetermine that the one or more queried automated customized foodgeneration machines have the one or more ingredients in the one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate the at least onecustomized food item in accordance with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user. For instance, the capable automated customizedfood generation machine ascertaining module 304* including the automatedcustomized food generation machine querying module 426 (see FIG. 4B) ofthe automated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3Aor 3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E)identifying or ascertaining the one or more capable automated customizedfood generation machines (e.g., the automated customized food generationmachine 10′″ or the automated customized food generation machine 10″″ ofFIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) that have the one or more ingredients in the oneor more sufficient quantities to be able to currently generate the atleast one customized food item 22 in accordance with the one or morecustomized food preferences of the user 13 by having the automatedcustomized food generation machine querying module 426, for example,query one or more automated customized food generation machines 10* inorder to determine that the one or more queried automated customizedfood generation machines 10* have the one or more ingredients in the oneor more sufficient quantities to be able to currently generate the atleast one customized food item 22 in accordance with the one or morecustomized food preferences of the user 13.

As further illustrated in FIG. 7C, in various implementations, operation745 may actually include an operation 746 a for determining presence ofone or more automated customized food generation machines within a shortwalking, mass transit, and/or driving distance from current location ofthe user and an operation 746 b for querying the one or more automatedcustomized food generation machines that were determined to be locatedwithin the short walking, mass transit, and/or driving distance from thecurrent location of the user in order to determine that the one or moreautomated customized food generation machines have the one or moreingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate the at least one customized food item in accordancewith the one or more customized food preferences of the user. Forinstance, the nearby automated customized food generation machineascertaining module 428 (see FIG. 4B) of the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) determining or ascertainingpresence of one or more automated customized food generation machines10* within a short walking, mass transit, and/or driving distance fromcurrent location of the user 13; and the automated customized foodgeneration machine querying module 426 (see FIG. 4B) of the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or ofthe network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) querying the one ormore automated customized food generation machines 10* that weredetermined to be located within the short walking, mass transit, and/ordriving distance from the current location of the user 13 in order todetermine that the one or more automated customized food generationmachines 10* have the one or more ingredients in the one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate the at least onecustomized food item 22 in accordance with the one or more customizedfood preferences of the user 13. There are a number of ways to determineor ascertain the presence of the one or more automated customized foodgeneration machines 10* within a short walking, mass transit, and/ordriving distance from the current location of the user 13. For example,such information may be obtained using GPS data obtained from a mobiledevice of the user 13 and the known locations of the automatedcustomized food generation machines 10*, or using previously storedinformation related to the relative locations of different automatedcustomized food generation machines 10* with respect to each other insituations where, for example, the user 13 is using or is at one of theautomated customized food generation machines 10*.

As further illustrated in FIG. 7C, operation 746 a may include one ormore additional operations including, in some cases, an operation 747for determining the presence of the one or more automated customizedfood generation machines within the short walking, mass transit, and/ordriving distance from current location of the user by determiningpresence of one or more automated customized food generation machineswithin one mile from current location of the user. For instance, thenearby automated customized food generation machine ascertaining module428 of the automated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b ofFIG. 3A or 3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E)determining the presence of the one or more automated customized foodmachines 10* within the short walking, mass transit, and/or drivingdistance from current location of the user 13 by determining orascertaining presence of one or more automated customized food machines10* within one mile from current location of the user 13.

In some implementations, operation 746 a may include an operation 748for determining the presence of the one or more automated customizedfood generation machines within the short walking, mass transit, and/ordriving distance from the current location of the user by determiningpresence of one or more automated customized food generation machineswithin five miles from the current location of the user. For instance,the nearby automated customized food generation machine ascertainingmodule 428 of the automated customized food generation machine 10 a or10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3Dor 3E) determining the presence of the one or more automated customizedfood machines 10* within the short walking, mass transit, and/or drivingdistance from the current location of the user 13 by determining orascertaining presence of one or more automated customized foodgeneration machines 10* within five miles from the current location ofthe user 13.

In some implementations, operation 746 a may include an operation 749for determining the presence of the one or more automated customizedfood generation machines within the short walking, mass transit, and/ordriving distance from the current location of the user by determiningpresence of one or more automated customized food generation machineswithin 30 minutes of traveling by walking, mass transit, and/orautomobile from the current location of the user. For instance, thenearby automated customized food generation machine ascertaining module428 of the automated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b ofFIG. 3A or 3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E)determining the presence of the one or more automated customized foodgeneration machines 10* within the short walking, mass transit, and/ordriving distance from the current location of the user 13 by determiningor ascertaining presence of one or more automated customized foodgeneration machines 10* within 30 minutes of traveling by walking, masstransit, and/or automobile from the current location of the user 13.

In various implementations, the capable automated customized foodgeneration machine identifying operation 504 may actually include anoperation 750 for identifying one or more capable automated customizedfood generation machines that have one or more ingredients in one ormore sufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item in accordance with one or more dietary preferencesof the user as illustrated in FIG. 7D. For instance, the capableautomated customized food generation machine ascertaining module 304* ofthe automated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3Aor 3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E)identifying one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines (e.g., the automated customized food generation machine 10′″ orthe automated customized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C,1D, or 1E) that have one or more ingredients in one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized fooditem 22 in accordance with one or more dietary preferences (e.g.,chicken from Tyson farm to be used, non-fat milk, and so forth) of theuser 13.

As further illustrated in FIG. 7D, in various implementations, operation750 may further include one or more additional operations including, insome cases, an operation 751 for identifying the one or more capableautomated customized food generation machines that have the one or moreingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate the at least one customized food item in accordancewith the one or more dietary preferences of the user by identifying oneor more capable automated customized food generation machines that haveone or more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be ableto currently generate at least one customized food item in accordancewith one or more customized food item preferences of the user. Forinstance, the capable automated customized food generation machineascertaining module 304* of the automated customized food generationmachine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the network device 12 a or12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) identifying the one or more capable automatedcustomized food generation machines that have the one or moreingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate the at least one customized food item 22 inaccordance with the one or more dietary preferences of the user 13 byidentifying or ascertaining one or more capable automated customizedfood generation machines (e.g., the automated customized food generationmachine 10′″ or the automated customized food generation machine 10″″ ofFIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) that have one or more ingredients in one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item 22 in accordance with one or more customized fooditem preferences (e.g., peanut butter energy bar, hamburger, beef stew,and so forth) of the user 13.

In the same or different implementations, operation 750 may additionallyor alternatively include an operation 752 for identifying the one ormore capable automated customized food generation machines that have theone or more ingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to beable to currently generate the at least one customized food item inaccordance with the one or more dietary preferences of the user byidentifying one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines that have one or more ingredients in one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized fooditem in accordance with one or more heating or cooling preferences ofthe user related to one or more ingredients. For instance, the capableautomated customized food generation machine ascertaining module 304* ofthe automated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3Aor 3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E)identifying the one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines that have the one or more ingredients in the one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate the at least onecustomized food item 22 in accordance with the one or more dietarypreferences of the user 13 by identifying or ascertaining one or morecapable automated customized food generation machines (e.g., theautomated customized food generation machine 10′″ or the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) thathave one or more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to beable to currently generate at least one customized food item 22 inaccordance with one or more heating or cooling preferences of the user13 related to one or more ingredients (e.g., meats or ice cream).

In the same or different implementations, operation 750 may additionallyor alternatively include an operation 753 for identifying the one ormore capable automated customized food generation machines that have theone or more ingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to beable to currently generate the at least one customized food item inaccordance with the one or more dietary preferences of the user byidentifying one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines that have one or more ingredients in one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized fooditem in accordance with one or more taste or flavor preferences of theuser. For instance, the capable automated customized food generationmachine ascertaining module 304* of the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) identifying the one or morecapable automated customized food generation machines that have the oneor more ingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to be ableto currently generate the at least one customized food item 22 inaccordance with the one or more dietary preferences of the user 13 byidentifying or ascertaining one or more capable automated customizedfood generation machines (e.g., the automated customized food generationmachine 10′″ or the automated customized food generation machine 10″″ ofFIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) that have one or more ingredients in one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item 22 in accordance with one or more taste or flavor(e.g., spicy, tangy, and so forth) preferences of the user 13.

In the same or different implementations, operation 750 may additionallyor alternatively include an operation 754 for identifying the one ormore capable automated customized food generation machines that have theone or more ingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to beable to currently generate the at least one customized food item inaccordance with the one or more dietary preferences of the user byidentifying one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines that have one or more ingredients in one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized fooditem in accordance with one or more ingredient preferences of the useras illustrated in FIG. 7E. For instance, the capable automatedcustomized food generation machine ascertaining module 304* of theautomated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) identifyingthe one or more capable automated customized food generation machinesthat have the one or more ingredients in the one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate the at least one customizedfood item 22 in accordance with the one or more dietary preferences ofthe user 13 by identifying or ascertaining one or more capable automatedcustomized food generation machines (e.g., the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10′″ or the automated customized food generationmachine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) that have one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item in accordance with one ormore ingredient preferences (e.g., chicken rather than beef, aspartamefor sweetener, wheat bread, and so forth) of the user 13.

In the same or different implementations, operation 750 may additionallyor alternatively include an operation 755 for identifying the one ormore capable automated customized food generation machines that have theone or more ingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to beable to currently generate the at least one customized food item inaccordance with the one or more dietary preferences of the user byidentifying one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines that have one or more ingredients in one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized fooditem in accordance with one or more dietary schedules of the user. Forinstance, the capable automated customized food generation machineascertaining module 304* of the automated customized food generationmachine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the network device 12 a or12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) identifying the one or more capable automatedcustomized food generation machines that have the one or moreingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate the at least one customized food item 22 inaccordance with the one or more dietary preferences of the user 13 byidentifying or ascertaining one or more capable automated customizedfood generation machines (e.g., the automated customized food generationmachine 10′″ or the automated customized food generation machine 10″″ ofFIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) that have one or more ingredients in one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item 22 in accordance with one or more dietary schedules(e.g., dietary plans) of the user 13.

In the same or different implementations, operation 750 may additionallyor alternatively include an operation 756 for identifying the one ormore capable automated customized food generation machines that have theone or more ingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to beable to currently generate the at least one customized food item inaccordance with the one or more dietary preferences of the user byidentifying one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines that have one or more ingredients in one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized fooditem in accordance with one or more dietary restrictions of the user.For instance, the capable automated customized food generation machineascertaining module 304* of the automated customized food generationmachine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the network device 12 a or12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) identifying the one or more capable automatedcustomized food generation machines that have the one or moreingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate the at least one customized food item 22 inaccordance with the one or more dietary preferences of the user 13 byidentifying or ascertaining one or more capable automated customizedfood generation machines (e.g., the automated customized food generationmachine 10′″ or the automated customized food generation machine 10″″ ofFIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) that have one or more ingredients in one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item 22 in accordance with one or more dietaryrestrictions (e.g., no tree nuts, low carbohydrates, non-dairyingredients such as soy milk, and so forth) of the user 13.

In the same or different implementations, operation 750 may additionallyor alternatively include an operation 757 for identifying the one ormore capable automated customized food generation machines that have theone or more ingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to beable to currently generate the at least one customized food item inaccordance with the one or more dietary preferences of the user byidentifying one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines that have one or more ingredients in one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized fooditem in accordance with one or more dietary needs of the user. Forinstance, the capable automated customized food generation machineascertaining module 304* of the automated customized food generationmachine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the network device 12 a or12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) identifying the one or more capable automatedcustomized food generation machines that have the one or moreingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate the at least one customized food item 22 inaccordance with the one or more dietary preferences of the user 13 byidentifying or ascertaining one or more capable automated customizedfood generation machines (e.g., the automated customized food generationmachine 10′ or the automated customized food generation machine 10″″ ofFIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) that have one or more ingredients in one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item 22 in accordance with one or more dietary needs(e.g., vitamin D enriched ingredients, high fiber diet, and so forth) ofthe user 13.

Turning now to FIG. 7F, in various implementations, the capableautomated customized food generation machine identifying operation 504may include an operation 758 for identifying the one or more capableautomated customized food generation machines by identifying one or morecapable automated customized food generation machines that have one ormore ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate at least one customized food item in accordance withone or more purity preferences of the user related to purity of one ormore ingredients for use in generating the at least one customized fooditem. For instance, the capable automated customized food generationmachine ascertaining module 304* of the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) identifying the one or morecapable automated customized food generation machines by identifying orascertaining one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines (e.g., the automated customized food generation machine 10′″ orthe automated customized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C,1D, or 1E) that have one or more ingredients in one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized fooditem 22 in accordance with one or more purity preferences of the user 13related to purity of one or more ingredients (e.g., preferences thatantibiotic free or hormone free meats be used) for use in generating theat least one customized food item 22.

As further illustrated in FIG. 7F, operation 758 may, in some cases,include an operation 759 for identifying the one or more capableautomated customized food generation machines by identifying one or morecapable automated customized food generation machines that have one ormore ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate at least one customized food item in accordance withone or more preferences of the user that one or more sources for the oneor more ingredients were tested for presence or absence of one or moreimpurities. For instance, the capable automated customized foodgeneration machine ascertaining module 304* of the automated customizedfood generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) identifying the one or morecapable automated customized food generation machines by identifying orascertaining one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines (e.g., the automated customized food generation machine 10′″ orthe automated customized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C,1D, or 1E) that have one or more ingredients in one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized fooditem 22 in accordance with one or more preferences of the user 13 thatone or more sources (e.g., a farm, a crop batch, a domestic animal, andso forth) for the one or more ingredients (e.g., meats, vegetables, andso forth) were tested for presence or absence of one or more impurities(e.g., bacteria, viral agents, heavy metals, pesticides, and so forth).

In some implementations, operation 759 may, in turn, further include anoperation 760 for identifying the one or more capable automatedcustomized food generation machines by identifying one or more capableautomated customized food generation machines that have one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item in accordance with one ormore preferences of the user that the one or more sources for the one ormore ingredients were tested for presence or absence of one or moreprions. For instance, the capable automated customized food generationmachine ascertaining module 304* of the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) identifying the one or morecapable automated customized food generation machines by identifying orascertaining one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines (e.g., the automated customized food generation machine 10′″ orthe automated customized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C,1D, or 1E) that have one or more ingredients in one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized fooditem 22 in accordance with one or more preferences of the user 13 thatthe one or more sources (e.g., a cow or a cattle herd) for the one ormore ingredients were tested for presence or absence of one or moreprions.

As further illustrated in FIG. 7F, operation 760 may further include, insome implementations, an operation 761 for identifying the one or morecapable automated customized food generation machines by identifying oneor more capable automated customized food generation machines that haveone or more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be ableto currently generate at least one customized food item in accordancewith one or more preferences of the user that the one or more sourcesfor the one or more ingredients were tested for the presence or absenceof the one or more prions within one or more predefined amounts of timefrom when the one or more ingredients were harvested from the one ormore sources. For instance, the capable automated customized foodgeneration machine ascertaining module 304* of the automated customizedfood generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) identifying the one or morecapable automated customized food generation machines by identifying orascertaining one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines (e.g., the automated customized food generation machine 10′″ orthe automated customized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C,1D, or 1E) that have one or more ingredients in one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized fooditem 22 in accordance with one or more preferences of the user 13 thatthe one or more sources for the one or more ingredients (e.g., groundbeef) were tested for the presence or absence of the one or more prionswithin one or more predefined amounts of time (e.g., one month) fromwhen the one or more ingredients were harvested from the one or moresources (e.g., a cow).

In various implementations, operation 759 for identifying the one ormore capable automated customized food generation machines byidentifying one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines that have one or more ingredients in one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized fooditem in accordance with one or more preferences of the user that one ormore sources for the one or more ingredients were tested for presence orabsence of one or more impurities in FIG. 7F may further include anoperation 762 for identifying the one or more capable automatedcustomized food generation machines by identifying one or more capableautomated customized food generation machines that have one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item in accordance with one ormore preferences of the user that the one or more sources for the one ormore ingredients were tested for presence or absence of one or moreselective bacteria as illustrated in FIG. 7G. For instance, the capableautomated customized food generation machine ascertaining module 304* ofthe automated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3Aor 3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E)identifying the one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines by identifying or ascertaining one or more capable automatedcustomized food generation machines (e.g., the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10′″ or the automated customized food generationmachine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) that have one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item 22 in accordance with one ormore preferences of the user 13 that the one or more sources (e.g., acrop harvest, a farm, and so forth) for the one or more ingredients weretested for presence or absence of one or more selective bacteria thatare identified by the one or more preferences of the user 13.

As also further illustrated in FIG. 7G, operation 762 in variousimplementations may include one or more additional operations including,in some cases, an operation 763 for identifying the one or more capableautomated customized food generation machines by identifying one or morecapable automated customized food generation machines that have one ormore ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate at least one customized food item in accordance withone or more preferences of the user that the one or more sources for theone or more ingredients were tested to confirm that the one or moreselective bacteria are present in the one or more sources at below oneor more predefined levels. For instance, the capable automatedcustomized food generation machine ascertaining module 304* of theautomated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) identifyingthe one or more capable automated customized food generation machines byidentifying or ascertaining one or more capable automated customizedfood generation machines (e.g., the automated customized food generationmachine 10′″ or the automated customized food generation machine 10″″ ofFIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) that have one or more ingredients in one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item 22 in accordance with one or more preferences ofthe user 13 that the one or more sources for the one or more ingredientswere tested to confirm that the one or more selective bacteria arepresent in the one or more sources at below one or more predefinedlevels. That is, in some cases, the presence of certain low levels ofcertain bacteria types may be acceptable to users 13.

In the same or alternative implementations, operation 762 may include anoperation 764 for identifying the one or more capable automatedcustomized food generation machines by identifying one or more capableautomated customized food generation machines that have one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item in accordance with one ormore preferences of the user that the one or more sources for the one ormore ingredients were tested for the presence of the one or moreselective bacteria within one or more predefined amounts of time fromwhen the one or more ingredients were harvested from the one or moresources. For instance, the capable automated customized food generationmachine ascertaining module 304* of the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) identifying the one or morecapable automated customized food generation machines by identifying orascertaining one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines (e.g., the automated customized food generation machine 10′″ orthe automated customized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C,1D, or 1E) that have one or more ingredients in one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized fooditem 22 in accordance with one or more preferences of the user 13 thatthe one or more sources for the one or more ingredients were tested forthe presence of the one or more selective bacteria within one or morepredefined amounts of time from when the one or more ingredients (e.g.,vegetables or vegetable products, meats, and so forth) were harvestedfrom the one or more sources (e.g., crop harvest, farms, a cow or a herdof domesticated animals, and so forth).

In the same or alternative implementations, operation 762 may include anoperation 765 for identifying the one or more capable automatedcustomized food generation machines by identifying one or more capableautomated customized food generation machines that have one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item in accordance with one ormore preferences of the user that the one or more sources for the one ormore ingredients were tested for presence or absence of the one or moreselective bacteria, the one or more selective bacteria including atleast one of enterococcus, E. coli, campylobacter, klebsiellapneumoniae, salmonella, or staphylococcus aureus. For instance, thecapable automated customized food generation machine ascertaining module304* of the automated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b ofFIG. 3A or 3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E)identifying the one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines by identifying or ascertaining one or more capable automatedcustomized food generation machines (e.g., the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10′″ or the automated customized food generationmachine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) that have one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item 22 in accordance with one ormore preferences of the user 13 that the one or more sources for the oneor more ingredients were tested for presence or absence of the one ormore selective bacteria, the one or more selective bacteria including atleast one of enterococcus, E. coli, campylobacter, klebsiellapneumoniae, salmonella, or staphylococcus aureus.

Turning now to FIG. 7H, in various implementations, operation 759 mayinclude an operation 766 for identifying the one or more capableautomated customized food generation machines by identifying one or morecapable automated customized food generation machines that have one ormore ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate at least one customized food item in accordance withone or more preferences of the user that the one or more sources for theone or more ingredients were tested for presence or absence of one ormore antibiotics. For instance, the capable automated customized foodgeneration machine ascertaining module 304* of the automated customizedfood generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) identifying the one or morecapable automated customized food generation machines by identifying orascertaining one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines (e.g., the automated customized food generation machine 10′″ orthe automated customized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C,1D, or 1E) that have one or more ingredients in one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized fooditem 22 in accordance with one or more preferences of the user 13 thatthe one or more sources (e.g., butchered meats, cattle herd, pork farm,and so forth) for the one or more ingredients (e.g., beef, chicken,pork, and so forth) were tested for presence or absence of one or moreantibiotics.

In some implementations, operation 766 may further include an operation767 for identifying the one or more capable automated customized foodgeneration machines by identifying one or more capable automatedcustomized food generation machines that have one or more ingredients inone or more sufficient quantities to be able to currently generate atleast one customized food item in accordance with one or morepreferences of the user that the one or more sources for the one or moreingredients were tested to confirm that the one or more antibiotics arepresent in the one or more sources at below one or more predefinedlevels. For instance, the capable automated customized food generationmachine ascertaining module 304* of the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) identifying the one or morecapable automated customized food generation machines by identifying orascertaining one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines (e.g., the automated customized food generation machine 10′″ orthe automated customized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C,1D, or 1E) that have one or more ingredients in one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized fooditem 22 in accordance with one or more preferences of the user 13 thatthe one or more sources for the one or more ingredients were tested toconfirm that the one or more antibiotics are present in the one or moresources at below one or more predefined levels. That is, in some cases,it may be acceptable to at least some users 13 to use ingredients withcertain low levels of selective antibiotics for generating customizedfood items 22.

In the same or alternative implementations, operation 759 mayadditionally or alternatively include an operation 768 for identifyingthe one or more capable automated customized food generation machines byidentifying one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines that have one or more ingredients in one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized fooditem in accordance with one or more preferences of the user that the oneor more sources for the one or more ingredients were tested for presenceor absence of one or more pesticides. For instance, the capableautomated customized food generation machine ascertaining module 304* ofthe automated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3Aor 3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E)identifying the one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines by identifying or ascertaining one or more capable automatedcustomized food generation machines (e.g., the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10′″ or the automated customized food generationmachine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) that have one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item 22 in accordance with one ormore preferences of the user 13 that the one or more sources (e.g., cropharvest, processed batch, and so forth) for the one or more ingredients(e.g., vegetables, processed ingredients such as flour or sugar,homogenized dairy products, and so forth) were tested for presence orabsence of one or more pesticides.

In some cases, operation 768 may further include an operation 769 foridentifying the one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines by identifying one or more capable automated customized foodgeneration machines that have one or more ingredients in one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item in accordance with one or more preferences of theuser that the one or more sources for the one or more ingredients weretested to confirm that the one or more sources were tested to be free ofone or more specified pesticides. For instance, the capable automatedcustomized food generation machine ascertaining module 304* of theautomated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) identifyingthe one or more capable automated customized food generation machines byidentifying or ascertaining one or more capable automated customizedfood generation machines (e.g., the automated customized food generationmachine 10′″ or the automated customized food generation machine 10″″ ofFIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) that have one or more ingredients in one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item 22 in accordance with one or more preferences ofthe user 13 that the one or more sources for the one or more ingredientswere tested to confirm that the one or more sources were tested to befree of one or more specified pesticides (e.g., specified pesticides asspecified by the one or more preferences of the user 13.

Referring now to FIG. 7J, in some implementations, operation 758 foridentifying the one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines by identifying one or more capable automated customized foodgeneration machines that have one or more ingredients in one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item in accordance with one or more purity preferencesof the user related to purity of one or more ingredients for use ingenerating the at least one customized food item may include anoperation 770 for identifying the one or more capable automatedcustomized food generation machines that have the one or moreingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate the at least one customized food item in accordancewith the one or more purity preferences of the user by identifying oneor more capable automated customized food generation machines that haveone or more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be ableto currently generate at least one customized food item in accordancewith one or more preferences of the user related to purity of one ormore meat ingredients to be used for generating the at least onecustomized food item. For instance, the capable automated customizedfood generation machine ascertaining module 304* of the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or ofthe network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) identifying the one ormore capable automated customized food generation machines that have theone or more ingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to beable to currently generate the at least one customized food item 22 inaccordance with the one or more purity preferences of the user 13 byidentifying or ascertaining one or more capable automated customizedfood generation machines (e.g., the automated customized food generationmachine 10′″ or the automated customized food generation machine 10″″ ofFIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) that have one or more ingredients in one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item 22 in accordance with one or more preferences ofthe user 13 related to purity (e.g., free of excessive hormones or freeof selective viral agents) of one or more meat ingredients (e.g., beef,pork, chicken, and so forth) to be used for generating the at least onecustomized food item 22.

In the same or alternative implementations, operation 758 mayadditionally or alternatively include an operation 771 for identifyingthe one or more capable automated customized food generation machinesthat have the one or more ingredients in the one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate the at least one customizedfood item in accordance with the one or more purity preferences of theuser by identifying one or more capable automated customized foodgeneration machines that have one or more ingredients in one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item in accordance with one or more preferences of theuser related to purity of one or more processed ingredients to be usedfor generating the at least one customized food item. For instance, thecapable automated customized food generation machine ascertaining module304* of the automated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b ofFIG. 3A or 3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E)identifying the one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines that have the one or more ingredients in the one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate the at least onecustomized food item 22 in accordance with the one or more puritypreferences of the user 13 by identifying and ascertaining one or morecapable automated customized food generation machines (e.g., theautomated customized food generation machine 10′″ or the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) thathave one or more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to beable to currently generate at least one customized food item 22 inaccordance with one or more preferences of the user 13 related to purityof one or more processed ingredients (e.g., processed flour, processedsugar, dairy products, and so forth) to be used for generating the atleast one customized food item 22.

In the same or alternative implementations, operation 758 mayadditionally or alternatively an operation 772 for identifying the oneor more capable automated customized food generation machines that havethe one or more ingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities tobe able to currently generate the at least one customized food item inaccordance with the one or more purity preferences of the user byidentifying one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines that have one or more ingredients in one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized fooditem in accordance with one or more preferences of the user related topurity of one or more vegetable ingredients to be used for generatingthe at least one customized food item. For instance, the capableautomated customized food generation machine ascertaining module 304* ofthe automated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3Aor 3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E)identifying the one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines that have the one or more ingredients in the one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate the at least onecustomized food item 22 in accordance with the one or more puritypreferences of the user 13 by identifying or ascertaining one or morecapable automated customized food generation machines (e.g., theautomated customized food generation machine 10′″ or the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) thathave one or more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to beable to currently generate at least one customized food item 22 inaccordance with one or more preferences of the user 13 related to purityof one or more vegetable ingredients (e.g., vegetables including fruits,certain vegetable based spices, carrots, lettuce, and so forth) to beused for generating the at least one customized food item 22.

Turning now to FIG. 7K, in various implementations, the capableautomated customized food generation machine identifying operation 504may include an operation 773 for identifying the one or more capableautomated customized food generation machines that have the one or moreingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate the at least one customized food item in accordancewith the one or more customized food preferences of the user byidentifying one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines that have one or more ingredients in one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized fooditem in accordance with one or more customized food preferences of theuser that the one or more ingredients for use in generating the at leastone customized food item were obtained from one or more specifiedsources. For instance, the capable automated customized food generationmachine ascertaining module 304* of the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) identifying the one or morecapable automated customized food generation machines that have the oneor more ingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to be ableto currently generate the at least one customized food item 22 inaccordance with the one or more customized food preferences of the user13 by identifying or ascertaining one or more capable automatedcustomized food generation machines (e.g., the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10′″ or the automated customized food generationmachine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) that have one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item 22 in accordance with one ormore customized food preferences of the user 13 that the one or moreingredients for use in generating the at least one customized food item22 were obtained from one or more specified sources (e.g., Tyson's farm,Kirkland, Del Monte, Green Giant, and so forth).

In the same or alternative implementations, the capable automatedcustomized food generation machine identifying operation 504 mayadditionally or alternatively include an operation 774 for identifyingthe one or more capable automated customized food generation machinesthat have the one or more ingredients in the one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate the at least one customizedfood item in accordance with the one or more customized food preferencesof the user by identifying one or more capable automated customized foodgeneration machines that have one or more ingredients in one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item in accordance with one or more customized foodpreferences of the user that the one or more ingredients for use ingenerating the at least one customized food item were not obtained fromone or more specified sources. For instance, the capable automatedcustomized food generation machine ascertaining module 304* of theautomated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) identifyingthe one or more capable automated customized food generation machinesthat have the one or more ingredients in the one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate the at least one customizedfood item 22 in accordance with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user 13 by identifying or ascertaining one or morecapable automated customized food generation machines (e.g., theautomated customized food generation machine 10′″ or the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) thathave one or more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to beable to currently generate at least one customized food item 22 inaccordance with one or more customized food preferences of the user 13that the one or more ingredients for use in generating the at least onecustomized food item 22 were not obtained from one or more specifiedsources (e.g., Oscar Meyers, Tysons farms, Dole, and so forth).

In the same or alternative implementations, the capable automatedcustomized food generation machine identifying operation 504 mayadditionally or alternatively include an operation 775 for identifyingthe one or more capable automated customized food generation machinesthat have the one or more ingredients in the one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate the at least one customizedfood item in accordance with the one or more customized food preferencesof the user by identifying one or more capable automated customized foodgeneration machines that have one or more ingredients in one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item in accordance with one or more customized foodpreferences of the user that the one or more ingredients for use ingenerating the at least one customized food item were obtained from oneor more specified locations. For instance, the capable automatedcustomized food generation machine ascertaining module 304* of theautomated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) identifyingthe one or more capable automated customized food generation machinesthat have the one or more ingredients in the one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate the at least one customizedfood item 22 in accordance with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user 13 by identifying or ascertaining one or morecapable automated customized food generation machines (e.g., theautomated customized food generation machine 10′″ or the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) thathave one or more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to beable to currently generate at least one customized food item 22 inaccordance with one or more customized food preferences of the user 13that the one or more ingredients (e.g., beef) for use in generating theat least one customized food item 22 were obtained from one or morespecified locations (e.g., Kobe, Japan).

In the same or alternative implementations, the capable automatedcustomized food generation machine identifying operation 504 mayadditionally or alternatively include an operation 776 for identifyingthe one or more capable automated customized food generation machinesthat have the one or more ingredients in the one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate the at least one customizedfood item in accordance with the one or more customized food preferencesof the user by identifying one or more capable automated customized foodgeneration machines that have one or more ingredients in one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item in accordance with one or more customized foodpreferences of the user that the one or more ingredients for use ingenerating the at least one customized food item were not obtained fromone or more specified locations. For instance, the capable automatedcustomized food generation machine ascertaining module 304* of theautomated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) identifyingthe one or more capable automated customized food generation machinesthat have the one or more ingredients in the one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate the at least one customizedfood item 22 in accordance with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user 13 by identifying or ascertaining one or morecapable automated customized food generation machines (e.g., theautomated customized food generation machine 10′″ or the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) thathave one or more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to beable to currently generate at least one customized food item 22 inaccordance with one or more customized food preferences of the user 13that the one or more ingredients (e.g., beef) for use in generating theat least one customized food item 22 were not obtained from one or morespecified locations (e.g., Britain which is where an outbreak of mad-cowdisease occurred).

In the same or alternative implementations, the capable automatedcustomized food generation machine identifying operation 504 mayadditionally or alternatively include an operation 777 for identifyingthe one or more capable automated customized food generation machinesincluding identifying one or more substitute automated customized foodgeneration machines that do not have the one or more ingredients in theone or more sufficient quantities to be able to currently generate theat least one customized food item in accordance with the one or morecustomized food preferences of the user but which are able to currentlygenerate at least one substitute customized food item that is asubstitute for the at least one customized food item as illustrated inFIG. 7L. For instance, the capable automated customized food generationmachine ascertaining module 304* including the substitute automatedcustomized food generation machine ascertaining module 430 (see FIG. 4B)of the automated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG.3A or 3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E)identifying the one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines including identifying or ascertaining, by for example, thesubstitute automated customized food generation machine ascertainingmodule 430, one or more substitute automated customized food generationmachines (e.g., the automated customized food generation machine 10″ ofFIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) that do not have the one or more ingredients inthe one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currently generatethe at least one customized food item 22 in accordance with the one ormore customized food preferences of the user 13 but which are able tocurrently generate at least one substitute customized food item that isa substitute for the at least one customized food item 22. That is, insome situations a user 13 may prefer to use a substitute automatedcustomized food generation machine 10″ rather than a capable automatedcustomized food generation machine 10′″ or 10″″ because the substituteautomated customized food generation machine 10″ is closer to thelocation of the user 13, because the substitute customized food item oritems generated by the substitute automated customized food generationmachine 10″ is acceptable to the user 13 and is cheaper than purchasinga fully compliant customized food item 22 from a capable automatedcustomized food generation machine 10′″ or 10″″, and/or for otherreasons.

As further illustrated in FIG. 7L, in some implementations, operation777 may include an operation 778 for identifying the one or moresubstitute automated customized food generation machines by identifyingone or more substitute automated customized food generation machinesthat have one or more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantitiesto be able to currently generate a substitute customized food item thatis substantially in compliance with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user. For instance, the substitute automatedcustomized food generation machine ascertaining module 430 of theautomated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) identifyingthe one or more substitute automated customized food generation machinesby identifying or ascertaining one or more substitute automatedcustomized food generation machines (e.g., the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10″ of FIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) that have one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate a substitute customized food item 22 that is substantially incompliance with (e.g., more than 50 percent compliant with) the one ormore customized food preferences of the user 13.

In the same or alternative implementations, the capable automatedcustomized food generation machine identifying operation 504 mayadditionally or alternatively include an operation 779 for identifyingthe one or more capable automated customized food generation machines inresponse to detecting that an automated customized food generationmachine that the user is interfacing with is unable to generate at leastone customized food item in compliance with the one or more customizedfood preferences of the user. For instance, the capable automatedcustomized food generation machine ascertaining module 304* includingthe unsatisfactory interfaced machine detecting module 432 (see FIG. 4B)of the automated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG.3A or 3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E)identifying the one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines (e.g., the automated customized food generation machine 10′″ orthe automated customized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C,1D, or 1E) in response to, for example, the unsatisfactory interfacedmachine detecting module 432 detecting that an automated customized foodgeneration machine (e.g., the automated customized food generationmachine 10′ of FIG. 1C, 1D, or 1E) that the user 13 is interfacing withis unable to generate at least one customized food item 22 in compliancewith the one or more customized food preferences of the user 13 relatedto the customized food item 22.

In the same or alternative implementations, the capable automatedcustomized food generation machine identifying operation 504 mayadditionally or alternatively include an operation 780 for identifyingthe one or more capable automated customized food generation machines inresponse to detecting that an automated customized food generationmachine that is in proximate vicinity of the user is unable to generateat least one customized food item in compliance with the one or morecustomized food preferences of the user. For instance, the capableautomated customized food generation machine ascertaining module 304*including the unsatisfactory proximity machine detecting module 434 (seeFIG. 4B) of the automated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or3E) identifying the one or more capable automated customized foodgeneration machines (e.g., the automated customized food generationmachine 10′″ or the automated customized food generation machine 10″″ ofFIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) in response to detecting, by for example theunsatisfactory proximity machine detecting module 434 that an automatedcustomized food generation machine (e.g., the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10′ of FIG. 1C, 1D, or 1E) that is in proximatevicinity (e.g., within 30 feet) of the user 13 is unable to generate atleast one customized food item 22 in compliance with the one or morecustomized food preferences of the user 13 related to the at least onecustomized food item 22.

Referring back to the indicator presenting operation 506 of FIG. 5, theindicator presenting operation 506 similar to the user preferenceinformation acquiring operation 502 and the capable automated customizedfood generation machine identifying operation 504 of FIG. 5 may beexecuted in a number of different ways in various alternativeembodiments as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, and8E. In some cases, for example, the indicator presenting operation 506may actually include or involve an operation 881 for presenting the oneor more indicators that direct the user to the at least one automatedcustomized food generation machine by audibly and/or visually presentingthe one or more indicators via user interface as illustrated in FIG. 8A.For instance, the indicator presenting module 306* of the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or ofthe network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) presenting the one ormore indicators 220* that direct or instruct the user 13 to the at leastone automated customized food generation machine 10* by audibly and/orvisually presenting the one or more indicators 220* (e.g., textualindicators, graphical indicators, and/or audio indicators) via userinterface 360 (e.g., touchscreen and/or microphones).

In some implementations, the indicator presenting operation 506 mayinclude an operation 882 for presenting the one or more indicators thatdirect the user to at least one automated customized food generationmachine by transmitting to one or more computing devices one or moreelectronic indicators that direct the user to at least one automatedcustomized food generation machine. For instance, the indicatorpresenting module 306* including the electronic indicator communicatingmodule 436 (see FIG. 4C) of the automated customized food generationmachine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the network device 12 a or12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) presenting the one or more indicators 220* thatdirect the user 13 to at least one automated customized food generationmachine 10* when the electronic indicator communicating module 436transmits or communicates to one or more computing devices 15 (which maybe a mobile device that is affiliated with the user 13) one or moreelectronic indicators (e.g., electronic versions of the indicators 220*of FIG. 2 that direct the user 13 to at least one automated customizedfood generation machine 10* (e.g., one or more capable automatedcustomized food generation machines and/or one or more substituteautomated customized food generation machines).

In some implementations, the indicator presenting operation 506 mayinclude an operation 883 for presenting the one or more indicators thatdirect the user to at least one automated customized food generationmachine by presenting one or more textual indicators that direct theuser to the at least one automated customized food generation machine.For instance, the indicator presenting module 306* including the textualindicator presenting module 438 (see FIG. 4C) of the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or ofthe network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) presenting the one ormore indicators 220* that direct the user 13 to at least one automatedcustomized food generation machine 10* when the textual indicatorpresenting module 438 presents one or more textual (e.g., alphanumeric)indicators 220* that direct the user 13 to the at least one automatedcustomized food generation machine 10*.

In some implementations, the indicator presenting operation 506 mayinclude an operation 884 for presenting the one or more indicators thatdirect the user to the at least one automated customized food generationmachine by presenting one or more graphical indicators that direct theuser to the at least one automated customized food generation machine.For instance, the indicator presenting module 306* including thegraphical indicator presenting module 440 (see FIG. 4C) of the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or ofthe network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) presenting the one ormore indicators 220* that direct the user 13 to the at least oneautomated customized food generation machine 10* when the graphicalindicator presenting module 440 presents one or more graphicalindicators (see, for example, indicator 220 c of FIG. 2C, which includestextual component as well as a graphical component in the form of a map)that direct the user 13 to the at least one automated customized foodgeneration machine 10*.

In some cases, operation 884 may further include an operation 885 forpresenting the one or more graphical indicators that direct the user tothe one or more automated customized food generation machines bypresenting one or more maps that direct the user to the one or moreautomated customized food generation machines. For instance, thegraphical indicator presenting module 440 of the automated customizedfood generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) presenting the one or moregraphical indicators (see, for example, indicator 220 c of FIG. 2C) thatdirect the user 13 to the one or more automated customized foodgeneration machines 10* by presenting one or more maps (see, forexample, FIG. 2C) that direct the user 13 to the one or more automatedcustomized food generation machines 10*.

In various implementations, the indicator presenting operation 506 mayinclude an operation 886 for presenting the one or more indicators thatdirect the user to the at least one automated customized food generationmachine by presenting one or more indicators that identify the at leastone automated customized food generation machine as illustrated in FIG.8B. For instance, the indicator presenting module 306* of the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or ofthe network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) presenting the one ormore indicators 220* that direct the user 13 to the at least oneautomated customized food generation machine 10* by presenting one ormore indicators (e.g., indicator 220 a of FIG. 2A, which identifiesdifferent machines by a variety of ways including by address, by name oflocation—“Lakeview mall—food court,” by machine number) that identifythe at least one automated customized food generation machine 10*.

As further illustrated in FIG. 8B, operation 886 may include one or moreadditional operations in various alternative implementations including,in some implementations, an operation 887 for presenting the one or moreindicators that identify the at least one automated customized foodgeneration machine by presenting one or more indicators that indicateone or more locations or addresses of the at least one automatedcustomized food generation machine. For instance, the indicatorpresenting module 306* of the automated customized food generationmachine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the network device 12 a or12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) presenting the one or more indicators thatidentify 220* the at least one automated customized food generationmachine 10* by presenting one or more indicators 220 a (e.g. FIG. 2A)that indicate one or more locations or addresses of the at least oneautomated customized food generation machine 10*.

In the same or alternative implementations, operation 886 mayadditionally or alternatively include an operation 888 for presentingthe one or more indicators that identify the at least one automatedcustomized food generation machine by presenting one or more indicatorsthat indicate instructions to reach the location of the at least oneautomated customized food generation machine from the location of theuser. For instance, the indicator presenting module 306* of theautomated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) presentingthe one or more indicators 220* that identify the at least one automatedcustomized food generation machine 10* by presenting one or moreindicators 200 b (see FIG. 2B) that indicate instructions to reach thelocation of the at least one automated customized food generationmachine 10* from the location of the user 13.

In the same or alternative implementations, operation 886 mayadditionally or alternatively may include an operation 889 forpresenting the one or more indicators that identify the at least oneautomated customized food generation machine by presenting one or moreindicators that indicate distance between the user and the at least oneautomated customized food generation machine. For instance, theindicator presenting module 306* of the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) presenting the one or moreindicators 220* that identify the at least one automated customized foodgeneration machine 10* by presenting one or more indicators 220 b or 220c (see FIG. 2B or 2C) that indicate distance between the user 13 and theat least one automated customized food generation machine 10*.

Turning to FIG. 8C, in various implementations, the indicator presentingoperation 506 may include an operation 890 for presenting the one ormore indicators that direct the user to the at least one automatedcustomized food generation machine by presenting one or more indicatorsthat direct the user to at least one automated customized foodgeneration machine that was identified as having the one or moreingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate the at least one customized food item in accordancewith the one or more customized food preferences of the user. Forinstance, the indicator presenting module 306* of the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or ofthe network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) presenting the one ormore indicators 220* that direct the user 13 to the at least oneautomated customized food generation machine 10* by presenting one ormore indicators (e.g., indicator 220 a, 200 b, 200 c, or 200 e FIG. 2A,2B, 2C, or 2E) that direct the user 13 to at least one automatedcustomized food generation machine (e.g., the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10′″ or the automated customized food generationmachine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) that was identified as havingthe one or more ingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities tobe able to currently generate the at least one customized food item 22in accordance with the one or more customized food preferences of theuser 13.

As further illustrated in FIG. 8C, operating 890 may further include oneor more additional operations in various implementations including, insome cases, an operation 891 for presenting the one or more indicatorsthat direct the user to the at least one automated customized foodgeneration machine that was identified as having the one or moreingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate the at least one customized food item in accordancewith the one or more customized food preferences of the user bypresenting one or more indicators that direct the user to at least oneautomated customized food generation machine that was identified ashaving the one or more ingredients in the one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate the at least one customizedfood item in accordance with the one or more customized food preferencesof the user and that is identified as being located within a shorttraveling distance from location of the user. For instance, theindicator presenting module 306* of the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) presenting the one or moreindicators 220* that direct the user 13 to the at least one automatedcustomized food generation machine 10* that was identified as having theone or more ingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to beable to currently generate the at least one customized food item 22 inaccordance with the one or more customized food preferences of the user13 by presenting one or more indicators (e.g., indicator 220 a, 200 b,200 c, or 200 e of FIG. 2A, 2B, 2C, or 2E) that direct the user 13 to atleast one automated customized food generation machine (e.g., theautomated customized food generation machine 10′″ or the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) thatwas identified as having the one or more ingredients in the one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate the at least onecustomized food item 22 in accordance with the one or more customizedfood preferences of the user 13 and that is identified as being locatedwithin a short traveling distance (e.g., within short 30 minuteswalking, mass transit, and/or driving distance) from location of theuser 13.

In some implementations, operation 890 may include an operation 892 forpresenting the one or more indicators that direct the user to the atleast one automated customized food generation machine that wasidentified as having the one or more ingredients in the one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate the at least onecustomized food item in accordance with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user by presenting one or more indicators that directthe user to at least one automated customized food generation machinethat was identified as having the one or more ingredients in the one ormore sufficient quantities to be able to currently generate the at leastone customized food item in accordance with the one or more customizedfood preferences of the user and that is identified as being locatedalong or proximate to one or more historical travel routes of the user.For instance, the indicator presenting module 306* of the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or ofthe network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) presenting the one ormore indicators 220* that direct the user 13 to the at least oneautomated customized food generation machine 10* that was identified ashaving the one or more ingredients in the one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate the at least one customizedfood item 22 in accordance with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user 13 by presenting one or more indicators (e.g.,indicator 220 a, 200 b, 200 c, or 200 e of FIG. 2A, 2B, 2C, or 2E) thatdirect the user 13 to at least one automated customized food generationmachine (e.g., the automated customized food generation machine 10′″ orthe automated customized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C,1D, or 1E) that was identified as having the one or more ingredients inthe one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currently generatethe at least one customized food item 22 in accordance with the one ormore customized food preferences of the user 13 and that is identifiedas being located along or proximate to (e.g., within ¼mile of) one ormore historical travel routes of the user 13. That is, a user 13 mayprefer to use automated customized food generation machines 10* that arealong or near the user's 13 past travel paths rather than using anautomated customized food generation machines 10* that is nowhere nearthe user's 13 past travel paths.

In some implementations, operation 890 may include an operation 893 forpresenting one or more indicators that direct the user to a plurality ofautomated customized food generation machines that were each identifiedas having the one or more ingredients in the one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate the at least one customizedfood item in accordance with the one or more customized food preferencesof the user, the one or more indicators indicating travel distance toeach location of the plurality of automated customized food generationmachines from location of the user, nearness of each of the plurality ofautomated customized food generation machines to one or more historicaltravel routes of the user, and/or one or more price discounts availablethrough each of the plurality of automated customized food generationmachines. For instance, the indicator presenting module 306* of theautomated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) presentingone or more indicators 220* that direct the user 13 to a plurality ofautomated customized food generation machines (e.g., the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10′″ and the automated customizedfood generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) that were eachidentified as having the one or more ingredients in the one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate the at least onecustomized food item 22 in accordance with the one or more customizedfood preferences of the user 13, the one or more indicators (e.g.,indicator 220 a or 220 c of FIG. 2A or 2C) indicating travel distance toeach location of the plurality of automated customized food generationmachines (e.g., the automated customized food generation machine 10′″and the automated customized food generation machine 10″″) from locationof the user 13, nearness of each of the plurality of automatedcustomized food generation machines (e.g., the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10′″) to one or more historical travel routes of theuser 13, and/or one or more price discounts available through each ofthe plurality of automated customized food generation machines (e.g.,the automated customized food generation machine 10′″ and the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10″″).

Referring to FIG. 8D, in various implementations, the indicatorpresenting operation 506 may include an operation 894 for presenting theone or more indicators that direct the user to the at least oneautomated customized food generation machine by presenting one or moreindicators that indicate at least one substitute automated customizedfood generation machine that was identified as having one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item that is only in partialcompliance with the one or more customized food preferences of the user.For instance, the indicator presenting module 306* of the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or ofthe network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) presenting the one ormore indicators 220* that direct the user 13 to the at least oneautomated customized food generation machine 10* by presenting one ormore indicators (e.g., indicator 220 d or 200 e of FIG. 2D or 2E) thatindicate at least one substitute automated customized food generationmachine (e.g., the automated customized food generation machine 10″ ofFIGS. 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E) that was identified as having one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item 22 that is only in partialcompliance with the one or more customized food preferences of the user13.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 8D and 8E, operation 894 may furtherinclude one or more additional operations including, in someimplementations, an operation 895 for presenting the one or moreindicators that indicate the at least one substitute automatedcustomized food generation machine by presenting one or more indicatorsthat indicate at least one substitute automated customized foodgeneration machine that was identified as not having the one or moreingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate at least one customized food item in accordance withthe one or more customized food preferences of the user, the at leastone substitute automated customized food generation machine beingindicated even though one or more automated customized food generationmachines that were identified as having the one or more ingredients inthe one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currently generatethe at least one customized food item in accordance with the one or morecustomized food preferences of the user were found. For instance, theindicator presenting module 306* of the automated customized foodgeneration machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or of the networkdevice 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) presenting the one or moreindicators (e.g., indicator 220 d or 200 e of FIG. 2D or 2E) thatindicate the at least one substitute automated customized foodgeneration machine (e.g., the automated customized food generationmachine 10″ of FIGS. 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E) by presenting one or moreindicators (e.g., indicator 220 e of FIG. 2E) that indicate at least onesubstitute automated customized food generation machine (e.g., theautomated customized food generation machine 10″ of FIGS. 2B, 2C, 2D,and 2E) that was identified as not having the one or more ingredients inthe one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currently generateat least one customized food item 22 in accordance with the one or morecustomized food preferences of the user 13, the at least one substituteautomated customized food generation machine (e.g., the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10″) being indicated or identified(see FIG. 2E) even though one or more automated customized foodgeneration machines (e.g., the automated customized food generationmachine 10′″ and the automated customized food generation machine 10″″of FIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) that were identified as having the one ormore ingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate the at least one customized food item 22 inaccordance with the one or more customized food preferences of the user13 were found or detected.

In the same or alternative implementations, operation 894 mayadditionally or alternatively include an operation 896 for presentingthe one or more indicators that indicate the at least one substituteautomated customized food generation machine by presenting one or moreindicators that indicate at least one substitute automated customizedfood generation machine that was identified as having one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item that is in substantialcompliance with the one or more customized food preferences of the user.For instance, the indicator presenting module 306* of the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or ofthe network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) presenting the one ormore indicators (e.g., indicator 220 d or 200 e of FIG. 2D or 2E) thatindicate the at least one substitute automated customized foodgeneration machine (e.g., the automated customized food generationmachine 10″ of FIGS. 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E) by presenting one or moreindicators (e.g., indicator 220 d or 200 e of FIG. 2D or 2E) thatindicate at least one substitute automated customized food generationmachine (e.g., the automated customized food generation machine 10″ ofFIGS. 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E) that was identified as having one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item 22 that is in substantialcompliance with the one or more customized food preferences of the user13.

In the same or alternative implementations, operation 894 mayadditionally or alternatively include an operation 897 for presentingthe one or more indicators that indicate the at least one substituteautomated customized food generation machine by presenting one or moreindicators that indicate at least one substitute automated customizedfood generation machine that was identified as having one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item that is in partial compliancewith the one or more customized food preferences of the user and thatwas identified as being located closer to the user than one or moreautomated customized food generation machines that were identified ashaving one or more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities tobe able to currently generate at least one customized food item in fullcompliance with the one or more customized food preferences of the user.For instance, the indicator presenting module 306* of the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or ofthe network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) presenting the one ormore indicators (e.g., indicator 220 d or 200 e of FIG. 2D or 2E) thatindicate the at least one substitute automated customized foodgeneration machine (e.g., the automated customized food generationmachine 10″ of FIGS. 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E) by presenting one or moreindicators (e.g., indicator 220 d or 200 e) that indicate at least onesubstitute automated customized food generation machine (e.g., theautomated customized food generation machine 10″) that was identified ashaving one or more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities tobe able to currently generate at least one customized food item 22 thatis in partial compliance with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user 13 and that was identified as being locatedcloser to the user 13 than one or more automated customized foodgeneration machines (e.g., capable customized food generation machinessuch as the automated customized food generation machine 10′″ and theautomated customized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or1E) that were identified as having one or more ingredients in one ormore sufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item 22 in full compliance with the one or morecustomized food preferences of the user 13 related to the at least onecustomized food item 22. For example, in FIG. 2E, the substituteautomated customized food generation machine that is indicated islocated closer to the user 13 than the indicated “fully” capableautomated customized food generation machines.

In the same or alternative implementations, operation 894 mayadditionally or alternatively include an operation 898 for presentingthe one or more indicators that indicate the at least one substituteautomated customized food generation machine by presenting one or moreindicators that indicate at least one substitute automated customizedfood generation machine that was identified as having one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item that is in partial compliancewith the one or more customized food preferences of the user and thatwas identified as being located closer to one or more historical travelroutes of the user than one or more automated customized food generationmachines that were identified as having one or more ingredients in oneor more sufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at leastone customized food item in full compliance with the one or morecustomized food preferences of the user as illustrated in FIG. 8E. Forinstance, the indicator presenting module 306* of the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or ofthe network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) presenting the one ormore indicators (e.g., indicator 220 d or 200 e of FIG. 2D or 2E) thatindicate the at least one substitute automated customized foodgeneration machine (e.g., the automated customized food generationmachine 10″ of FIGS. 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E) by presenting one or moreindicators (e.g., indicator 220 d or 200 e) that indicate at least onesubstitute automated customized food generation machine (e.g., theautomated customized food generation machine 10″) that was identified ashaving one or more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities tobe able to currently generate at least one customized food item 22 thatis in partial compliance with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user 13 and that was identified as being locatedcloser to one or more historical travel routes of the user 13 than oneor more automated customized food generation machines (e.g., theautomated customized food generation machine 10′″ and the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E) thatwere identified as having one or more ingredients in one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item 22 in full compliance with the one or morecustomized food preferences of the user 13 related to the at least onecustomized food item 22.

In the same or alternative implementations, operation 894 mayadditionally or alternatively include an operation 899 for presentingthe one or more indicators that indicate the at least one substituteautomated customized food generation machine by presenting one or moreindicators that indicate at least one substitute automated customizedfood generation machine that was identified as having one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item that is in partial compliancewith the one or more customized food preferences of the user and thatwas identified as having lower retail prices than retail prices of oneor more automated customized food generation machines that wereidentified as having one or more ingredients in one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized fooditem in full compliance with the one or more customized food preferencesof the user. For instance, the indicator presenting module 306* of theautomated customized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or3B (or of the network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) presentingthe one or more indicators (e.g., indicator 220 d or 200 e of FIG. 2D or2E) that indicate the at least one substitute automated customized foodgeneration machine (e.g., the automated customized food generationmachine 10″ of FIGS. 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E) by presenting one or moreindicators (e.g., indicator 220 e of FIG. 2E) that indicate at least onesubstitute automated customized food generation machine (e.g., theautomated customized food generation machine 10″) that was identified ashaving one or more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities tobe able to currently generate at least one customized food item 22 thatis only in partial compliance with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user 13 and that was identified as having lowerretail prices than retail prices (see, for example, FIG. 2E) of one ormore automated customized food generation machines (the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10′″ and the automated customizedfood generation machine 10″″ of FIG. 1B, 1C, 1D, or 1E)) that wereidentified as having one or more ingredients in one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized fooditem 22 in full compliance with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user 13 related to the at least one customized fooditem 22.

In the same or alternative implementations, operation 894 mayadditionally or alternatively include an operation 8100 for presentingthe one or more indicators that indicate the at least one substituteautomated customized food generation machine by presenting one or moreindicators that indicate the at least one substitute automatedcustomized food generation machine and that indicate one or more capableautomated customized food generation machines that were identified ashaving one or more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities tobe able to currently generate at least one customized food item in fullcompliance with the one or more customized food preferences of the user.For instance, the indicator presenting module 306* of the automatedcustomized food generation machine 10 a or 10 b of FIG. 3A or 3B (or ofthe network device 12 a or 12 b of FIG. 3D or 3E) presenting the one ormore indicators (e.g., indicator 220 d or 200 e of FIG. 2D or 2E) thatindicate the at least one substitute automated customized foodgeneration machine (e.g., the automated customized food generationmachine 10″ of FIGS. 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E) by presenting one or moreindicators (e.g., indicator 220 e of FIG. 2E) that indicate the at leastone substitute automated customized food generation machine (e.g., theautomated customized food generation machine 10″) and that indicate (seeindicator 220 e of FIG. 2E) one or more capable automated customizedfood generation machines that were identified as having one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item 22 in full compliance withthe one or more customized food preferences of the user 13 related tothe at least one customized food item 22.

While particular aspects of the present subject matter described hereinhave been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modificationsmay be made without departing from the subject matter described hereinand its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are toencompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as arewithin the true spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein.It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, termsused herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of theappended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,”etc.).

It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specificnumber of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intentwill be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of suchrecitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid tounderstanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of theintroductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claimrecitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed toimply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinitearticles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing suchintroduced claim recitation to claims containing only one suchrecitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or“an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “atleast one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use ofdefinite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, evenif a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitlyrecited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitationshould typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number(e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without othermodifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or morerecitations).

Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “atleast one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a constructionis intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understandthe convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C”would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone,C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A,B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a conventionanalogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general sucha construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the artwould understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one ofA, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have Aalone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be furtherunderstood by those within the art that typically a disjunctive wordand/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in thedescription, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplatethe possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, orboth terms unless context dictates otherwise. For example, the phrase “Aor B” will be typically understood to include the possibilities of “A”or “B” or “A and B.”

With respect to the appended claims, those skilled in the art willappreciate that recited operations therein may generally be performed inany order. Also, although various operational flows are presented in asequence(s), it should be understood that the various operations may beperformed in other orders than those which are illustrated, or may beperformed concurrently. Examples of such alternate orderings may includeoverlapping, interleaved, interrupted, reordered, incremental,preparatory, supplemental, simultaneous, reverse, or other variantorderings, unless context dictates otherwise. Furthermore, terms like“responsive to,” “related to,” or other past-tense adjectives aregenerally not intended to exclude such variants, unless context dictatesotherwise.

In some instances, one or more components may have been referred toherein as “configured to,” “configured by,” “configurable to,”“operable/operative to,” “adapted/adaptable,” “able to,”“conformable/conformed to,” etc. Those skilled in the art will recognizethat such terms (e.g. “configured to”) generally encompass active-statecomponents and/or inactive-state components and/or standby-statecomponents, unless context requires otherwise.

This application may make reference to one or more trademarks, e.g., aword, letter, symbol, or device adopted by one manufacturer or merchantand used to identify and/or distinguish his or her product from those ofothers. Trademark names used herein are set forth in such language thatmakes clear their identity, that distinguishes them from commondescriptive nouns, that have fixed and definite meanings, or, in many ifnot all cases, are accompanied by other specific identification usingterms not covered by trademark. In addition, trademark names used hereinhave meanings that are well-known and defined in the literature, or donot refer to products or compounds for which knowledge of one or moretrade secrets is required in order to divine their meaning. Alltrademarks referenced in this application are the property of theirrespective owners, and the appearance of one or more trademarks in thisapplication does not diminish or otherwise adversely affect the validityof the one or more trademarks. All trademarks, registered orunregistered, that appear in this application are assumed to include aproper trademark symbol, e.g., the circle R or bracketed capitalization(e.g., [trademark name]), even when such trademark symbol does notexplicitly appear next to the trademark. To the extent a trademark isused in a descriptive manner to refer to a product or process, thattrademark should be interpreted to represent the corresponding productor process as of the date of the filing of this patent application.

Throughout this application, the terms “in an embodiment,” ‘in oneembodiment,” “in some embodiments,” “in several embodiments,” “in atleast one embodiment,” “in various embodiments,” and the like, may beused. Each of these terms, and all such similar terms should beconstrued as “in at least one embodiment, and possibly but notnecessarily all embodiments,” unless explicitly stated otherwise.Specifically, unless explicitly stated otherwise, the intent of phraseslike these is to provide non-exclusive and non-limiting examples ofimplementations of the invention. The mere statement that one, some, ormay embodiments include one or more things or have one or more features,does not imply that all embodiments include one or more things or haveone or more features, but also does not imply that such embodiments mustexist. It is a mere indicator of an example and should not beinterpreted otherwise, unless explicitly stated as such.

A sale of a system or method may likewise occur in a territory even ifcomponents of the system or method are located and/or used outside theterritory. Further, implementation of at least part of a system forperforming a method in one territory does not preclude use of the systemin another territory

In a general sense, those skilled in the art will recognize that thevarious embodiments described herein can be implemented, individuallyand/or collectively, by various types of electro-mechanical systemshaving a wide range of electrical components such as hardware, software,firmware, and/or virtually any combination thereof, limited topatentable subject matter under 35 U.S.C. 101; and a wide range ofcomponents that may impart mechanical force or motion such as rigidbodies, spring or torsional bodies, hydraulics, electro-magneticallyactuated devices, and/or virtually any combination thereof.Consequently, as used herein, “electro-mechanical system” includes, butis not limited to, electrical circuitry operably coupled with atransducer (e.g., an actuator, a motor, a piezoelectric crystal, a MicroElectro Mechanical System (MEMS), etc.), electrical circuitry having atleast one discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having atleast one integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least oneapplication specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry forming ageneral purpose computing device configured by a computer program (e.g.,a general purpose computer configured by a computer program which atleast partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein,or a microprocessor configured by a computer program which at leastpartially carries out processes and/or devices described herein),electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g., forms of memory(e.g., random access, flash, read only, etc.)), electrical circuitryforming a communications device (e.g., a modem, communications switch,optical-electrical equipment, etc.), and/or any non-electrical analogthereto, such as optical or other analogs (e.g., graphene basedcircuitry). Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that examplesof electro-mechanical systems include, but are not limited to, a varietyof consumer electronics systems, medical devices, as well as othersystems such as motorized transport systems, factory automation systems,security systems, and/or communication/computing systems. Those skilledin the art will recognize that electro-mechanical as used herein is notnecessarily limited to a system that has both electrical and mechanicalactuation except as context may dictate otherwise.

In a general sense, those skilled in the art will recognize that thevarious aspects described herein which can be implemented, individuallyand/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware,and/or any combination thereof can be viewed as being composed ofvarious types of “electrical circuitry.” Consequently, as used herein“electrical circuitry” includes, but is not limited to, electricalcircuitry having at least one discrete electrical circuit, electricalcircuitry having at least one integrated circuit, electrical circuitryhaving at least one application specific integrated circuit, electricalcircuitry forming a general purpose computing device configured by acomputer program (e.g., a general purpose computer configured by acomputer program which at least partially carries out processes and/ordevices described herein, or a microprocessor configured by a computerprogram which at least partially carries out processes and/or devicesdescribed herein), electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g.,forms of memory (e.g., random access, flash, read only, etc.)), and/orelectrical circuitry forming a communications device (e.g., a modem,communications switch, optical-electrical equipment, etc.). Those havingskill in the art will recognize that the subject matter described hereinmay be implemented in an analog or digital fashion or some combinationthereof.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that at least a portion of thedevices and/or processes described herein can be integrated into a dataprocessing system. Those having skill in the art will recognize that adata processing system generally includes one or more of a system unithousing, a video display device, memory such as volatile or non-volatilememory, processors such as microprocessors or digital signal processors,computational entities such as operating systems, drivers, graphicaluser interfaces, and application programs, one or more interactiondevices (e.g., a touch pad, a touch screen, an antenna, etc.), and/orcontrol systems including feedback loops and control motors (e.g.,feedback for sensing position and/or velocity; control motors for movingand/or adjusting components and/or quantities). A data processing systemmay be implemented utilizing suitable commercially available components,such as those typically found in data computing/communication and/ornetwork computing/communication systems.

In certain cases, use of a system or method may occur in a territoryeven if components are located outside the territory. For example, in adistributed computing context, use of a distributed computing system mayoccur in a territory even though parts of the system may be locatedoutside of the territory (e.g., relay, server, processor, signal-bearingmedium, transmitting computer, receiving computer, etc. located outsidethe territory).

For the purposes of this application, “cloud” computing may beunderstood as described in the cloud computing literature. For example,cloud computing may be methods and/or systems for the delivery ofcomputational capacity and/or storage capacity as a service. The “cloud”may refer to one or more hardware and/or software components thatdeliver or assist in the delivery of computational and/or storagecapacity, including, but not limited to, one or more of a client, anapplication, a platform, an infrastructure, and/or a server. The cloudmay refer to any of the hardware and/or software associated with aclient, an application, a platform, an infrastructure, and/or a server.For example, cloud and cloud computing may refer to one or more of acomputer, a processor, a storage medium, a router, a switch, a modem, avirtual machine (e.g., a virtual server), a data center, an operatingsystem, a middleware, a firmware, a hardware back-end, a softwareback-end, and/or a software application. A cloud may refer to a privatecloud, a public cloud, a hybrid cloud, and/or a community cloud. A cloudmay be a shared pool of configurable computing resources, which may bepublic, private, semi-private, distributable, scaleable, flexible,temporary, virtual, and/or physical. A cloud or cloud service may bedelivered over one or more types of network, e.g., a mobilecommunication network, and the Internet.

As used in this application, a cloud or a cloud service may include oneor more of infrastructure-as-a-service (“IaaS”), platform-as-a-service(“PaaS”), software-as-a-service (“SaaS”), and/or desktop-as-a-service(“DaaS”). As a non-exclusive example, IaaS may include, e.g., one ormore virtual server instantiations that may start, stop, access, and/orconfigure virtual servers and/or storage centers (e.g., providing one ormore processors, storage space, and/or network resources on-demand,e.g., EMC and Rackspace). PaaS may include, e.g., one or more softwareand/or development tools hosted on an infrastructure (e.g., a computingplatform and/or a solution stack from which the client can createsoftware interfaces and applications, e.g., Microsoft Azure). SaaS mayinclude, e.g., software hosted by a service provider and accessible overa network (e.g., the software for the application and/or the dataassociated with that software application may be kept on the network,e.g., Google Apps, SalesForce). DaaS may include, e.g., providingdesktop, applications, data, and/or services for the user over a network(e.g., providing a multi-application framework, the applications in theframework, the data associated with the applications, and/or servicesrelated to the applications and/or the data over the network, e.g.,Citrix). The foregoing is intended to be exemplary of the types ofsystems and/or methods referred to in this application as “cloud” or“cloud computing” and should not be considered complete or exhaustive.

One skilled in the art will recognize that the herein describedcomponents (e.g., operations), devices, objects, and the discussionaccompanying them are used as examples for the sake of conceptualclarity and that various configuration modifications are contemplated.Consequently, as used herein, the specific exemplars set forth and theaccompanying discussion are intended to be representative of their moregeneral classes. In general, use of any specific exemplar is intended tobe representative of its class, and the non-inclusion of specificcomponents (e.g., operations), devices, and objects should not be takenas limiting.

The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates differentcomponents contained within, or connected with, different othercomponents. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures aremerely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures may beimplemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense,any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality iseffectively “associated” such that the desired functionality isachieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve aparticular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each othersuch that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective ofarchitectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components soassociated can also be viewed as being “operably connected” or “operablycoupled” to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and any twocomponents capable of being so associated can also be viewed as being“operably couplable” to each other to achieve the desired functionality.Specific examples of operably couplable include, but are not limited, tophysically mateable and/or physically interacting components, and/orwirelessly interactable, and/or wirelessly interacting components,and/or logically interacting, and/or logically interactable components.

Although one or more users may be shown and/or described herein as asingle illustrated figure, those skilled in the art will appreciate thatone or more users may be representative of one or more human users,robotic users (e.g., computational entity), and/or substantially anycombination thereof (e.g., a user may be assisted by one or more roboticagents) unless context dictates otherwise. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that, in general, the same may be said of “sender” and/orother entity-oriented terms as such terms are used herein unless contextdictates otherwise.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the foregoing specificexemplary processes and/or devices and/or technologies arerepresentative of more general processes and/or devices and/ortechnologies taught elsewhere herein, such as in the claims filedherewith and/or elsewhere in the present application.

1-201. (canceled)
 202. A system, comprising: a user preferenceinformation obtaining module configured to obtain user preferenceinformation of a user that indicates one or more customized foodpreferences of the user, the one or more customized food preferences ofthe user preference information including at least one or morepreferences of the user that are related to integrity of one or moreingredients for use in generating one or more customized food items; acapable automated customized food generation machine ascertaining moduleconfigured to ascertain one or more capable automated customized foodgeneration machines that have one or more ingredients in one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item in accordance with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user; and an indicator presenting module configuredto present one or more indicators that direct the user to at least oneautomated customized food generation machine, the presentation of theone or more indicators being in response at least in part to theascertainment. 203.-209. (canceled)
 210. The system of claim 202,wherein said user preference information obtaining module configured toobtain user preference information of a user that indicates one or morecustomized food preferences of the user, the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user preference information including at least one ormore preferences of the user that are related to integrity of one ormore ingredients for use in generating one or more customized food itemscomprises: a user preference information obtaining module including auser proximity detecting module configured to obtain the user preferenceinformation in response to detection by the user proximity detectingmodule that the user being in proximity of one or more automatedcustomized food generation machines that are designed to generatecustomized food items. 211.-212. (canceled)
 213. The system of claim202, wherein said user preference information obtaining moduleconfigured to obtain user preference information of a user thatindicates one or more customized food preferences of the user, the oneor more customized food preferences of the user preference informationincluding at least one or more preferences of the user that are relatedto integrity of one or more ingredients for use in generating one ormore customized food items comprises: a user preference informationobtaining module including a user affiliated determining moduleconfigured to obtain user preference information of a second user thatindicates one or more customized food preferences of the second userrelated to another one or more customized food items, the second userand the user having been determined by the user affiliated determiningmodule to be affiliated with each other. 214.-215. (canceled)
 216. Thesystem of claim 202, wherein said user preference information obtainingmodule configured to obtain user preference information of a user thatindicates one or more customized food preferences of the user, the oneor more customized food preferences of the user preference informationincluding at least one or more preferences of the user that are relatedto integrity of one or more ingredients for use in generating one ormore customized food items comprises: a user preference informationobtaining module configured to obtain dietary preference information ofthe user that indicates one or more dietary preferences of the user.217.-223. (canceled)
 224. The system of claim 202, wherein said userpreference information obtaining module configured to obtain userpreference information of a user that indicates one or more customizedfood preferences of the user, the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user preference information including at least one ormore preferences of the user that are related to integrity of one ormore ingredients for use in generating one or more customized food itemscomprises: a user preference information obtaining module configured toobtain historical dietary information associated with the user. 225.(canceled)
 226. The system of claim 202, wherein said user preferenceinformation obtaining module configured to obtain user preferenceinformation of a user that indicates one or more customized foodpreferences of the user, the one or more customized food preferences ofthe user preference information including at least one or morepreferences of the user that are related to integrity of one or moreingredients for use in generating one or more customized food itemscomprises: a user preference information obtaining module configured toobtain user preference information that includes one or more preferencesrelated to purity of the one or more ingredients for use in generatingthe one or more customized food items. 227.-229. (canceled)
 230. Thesystem of claim 202, wherein said user preference information obtainingmodule configured to obtain user preference information of a user thatindicates one or more customized food preferences of the user, the oneor more customized food preferences of the user preference informationincluding at least one or more preferences of the user that are relatedto integrity of one or more ingredients for use in generating one ormore customized food items comprises: a user preference informationobtaining module configured to obtain information indicating historicaltravel or movement information of the user.
 231. The system of claim202, wherein said user preference information obtaining moduleconfigured to obtain user preference information of a user thatindicates one or more customized food preferences of the user, the oneor more customized food preferences of the user preference informationincluding at least one or more preferences of the user that are relatedto integrity of one or more ingredients for use in generating one ormore customized food items comprises: a user preference informationobtaining module configured to obtain historical usage informationindicating historical user usage of one or more automated customizedfood generation machines.
 232. The system of claim 202, wherein saiduser preference information obtaining module configured to obtain userpreference information of a user that indicates one or more customizedfood preferences of the user, the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user preference information including at least one ormore preferences of the user that are related to integrity of one ormore ingredients for use in generating one or more customized food itemscomprises: a user preference information obtaining module configured toobtain historical response information indicating one or more historicaluser responses of the user in response to one or more customized foodgeneration machine recommendations previously presented to the user thatrecommended to the user one or more specific automated customized foodgeneration automated machines for use by the user.
 233. The system ofclaim 202, wherein said user preference information obtaining moduleconfigured to obtain user preference information of a user thatindicates one or more customized food preferences of the user, the oneor more customized food preferences of the user preference informationincluding at least one or more preferences of the user that are relatedto integrity of one or more ingredients for use in generating one ormore customized food items comprises: a user preference informationobtaining module including an unsatisfactory automated customized foodgeneration machine determining module configured to obtain at least aportion of the user preference information in response, at least inpart, to the unsatisfactory automated customized food generation machinedetermining module making a determination that an automated customizedfood generation machine that is designed to generate customized fooditems is unable to currently generate one or more customized food itemsin accordance with at least one customized food preference of the user.234.-240. (canceled)
 241. The system of claim 202, wherein said capableautomated customized food generation machine ascertaining moduleconfigured to ascertain one or more capable automated customized foodgeneration machines that have one or more ingredients in one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item in accordance with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user comprises: a capable automated customized foodgeneration machine ascertaining module including a short travelingdistance ascertaining module configured to ascertain one or more capableautomated customized food generation machines that are determined by theshort traveling distance ascertaining module to be located within ashort traveling distance from a location of the user and that have oneor more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate at least one customized food item in accordance withthe one or more customized food preferences of the user. 242.-249.(canceled)
 250. The system of claim 202, wherein said capable automatedcustomized food generation machine ascertaining module configured toascertain one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines that have one or more ingredients in one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized fooditem in accordance with the one or more customized food preferences ofthe user comprises: a capable automated customized food generationmachine ascertaining module configured to ascertain one or more capableautomated customized food generation machines that have one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item in accordance with one ormore dietary preferences of the user. 251.-253. (canceled)
 254. Thesystem of claim 250, wherein said capable automated customized foodgeneration machine ascertaining module configured to ascertain one ormore capable automated customized food generation machines that have oneor more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate at least one customized food item in accordance withone or more dietary preferences of the user comprises: a capableautomated customized food generation machine ascertaining moduleconfigured to ascertain one or more capable automated customized foodgeneration machines that have one or more ingredients in one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item in accordance with one or more ingredientpreferences of the user.
 255. The system of claim 250, wherein saidcapable automated customized food generation machine ascertaining moduleconfigured to ascertain one or more capable automated customized foodgeneration machines that have one or more ingredients in one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item in accordance with one or more dietary preferencesof the user comprises: a capable automated customized food generationmachine ascertaining module configured to ascertain one or more capableautomated customized food generation machines that have one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item in accordance with one ormore dietary schedules of the user.
 256. The system of claim 250,wherein said capable automated customized food generation machineascertaining module configured to ascertain one or more capableautomated customized food generation machines that have one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item in accordance with one ormore dietary preferences of the user comprises: a capable automatedcustomized food generation machine ascertaining module configured toascertain one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines that have one or more ingredients in one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized fooditem in accordance with one or more dietary restrictions of the user.257. (canceled)
 258. The system of claim 202, wherein said capableautomated customized food generation machine ascertaining moduleconfigured to ascertain one or more capable automated customized foodgeneration machines that have one or more ingredients in one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item in accordance with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user comprises: a capable automated customized foodgeneration machine ascertaining module configured to ascertain one ormore capable automated customized food generation machines that have oneor more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate at least one customized food item in accordance withone or more purity preferences of the user related to purity of one ormore ingredients for use in generating the at least one customized fooditem.
 259. The system of claim 258, wherein said capable automatedcustomized food generation machine ascertaining module configured toascertain one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines that have one or more ingredients in one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized fooditem in accordance with one or more purity preferences of the userrelated to purity of one or more ingredients for use in generating theat least one customized food item comprises: a capable automatedcustomized food generation machine ascertaining module configured toascertain one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines that have one or more ingredients in one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized fooditem in accordance with one or more preferences of the user that one ormore sources for the one or more ingredients were tested for presence orabsence of one or more impurities. 260.-261. (canceled)
 262. The systemof claim 259, wherein said capable automated customized food generationmachine ascertaining module configured to ascertain one or more capableautomated customized food generation machines that have one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item in accordance with one ormore preferences of the user that one or more sources for the one ormore ingredients were tested for presence or absence of one or moreimpurities comprises: a capable automated customized food generationmachine ascertaining module configured to ascertain one or more capableautomated customized food generation machines that have one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item in accordance with one ormore preferences of the user that the one or more sources for the one ormore ingredients were tested for presence or absence of one or moreselective bacteria. 263.-267. (canceled)
 268. The system of claim 259,wherein said capable automated customized food generation machineascertaining module configured to ascertain one or more capableautomated customized food generation machines that have one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item in accordance with one ormore preferences of the user that one or more sources for the one ormore ingredients were tested for presence or absence of one or moreimpurities comprises: a capable automated customized food generationmachine ascertaining module configured to ascertain one or more capableautomated customized food generation machines that have one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item in accordance with one ormore preferences of the user that the one or more sources for the one ormore ingredients were tested for presence or absence of one or morepesticides. 269.-272. (canceled)
 273. The system of claim 202, whereinsaid capable automated customized food generation machine ascertainingmodule configured to ascertain one or more capable automated customizedfood generation machines that have one or more ingredients in one ormore sufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item in accordance with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user comprises: a capable automated customized foodgeneration machine ascertaining module configured to ascertain one ormore capable automated customized food generation machines that have oneor more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate at least one customized food item in accordance withone or more customized food preferences of the user that the one or moreingredients for use in generating the at least one customized food itemwere obtained from one or more specified sources.
 274. The system ofclaim 202, wherein said capable automated customized food generationmachine ascertaining module configured to ascertain one or more capableautomated customized food generation machines that have one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item in accordance with the one ormore customized food preferences of the user comprises: a capableautomated customized food generation machine ascertaining moduleconfigured to ascertain one or more capable automated customized foodgeneration machines that have one or more ingredients in one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item in accordance with one or more customized foodpreferences of the user that the one or more ingredients for use ingenerating the at least one customized food item were not obtained fromone or more specified sources.
 275. The system of claim 202, whereinsaid capable automated customized food generation machine ascertainingmodule configured to ascertain one or more capable automated customizedfood generation machines that have one or more ingredients in one ormore sufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item in accordance with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user comprises: a capable automated customized foodgeneration machine ascertaining module configured to ascertain one ormore capable automated customized food generation machines that have oneor more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate at least one customized food item in accordance withone or more customized food preferences of the user that the one or moreingredients for use in generating the at least one customized food itemwere obtained from one or more specified locations.
 276. The system ofclaim 202, wherein said capable automated customized food generationmachine ascertaining module configured to ascertain one or more capableautomated customized food generation machines that have one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item in accordance with the one ormore customized food preferences of the user comprises: a capableautomated customized food generation machine ascertaining moduleconfigured to ascertain one or more capable automated customized foodgeneration machines that have one or more ingredients in one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item in accordance with one or more customized foodpreferences of the user that the one or more ingredients for use ingenerating the at least one customized food item were not obtained fromone or more specified locations.
 277. The system of claim 202, whereinsaid capable automated customized food generation machine ascertainingmodule configured to ascertain one or more capable automated customizedfood generation machines that have one or more ingredients in one ormore sufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item in accordance with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user comprises: a substitute automated customizedfood generation machine ascertaining module configured to ascertain oneor more substitute automated customized food generation machines that donot have the one or more ingredients in the one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate the at least one customizedfood item in accordance with the one or more customized food preferencesof the user but which are able to currently generate at least onesubstitute customized food item that is a substitute for the at leastone customized food item.
 278. The system of claim 277, wherein saidsubstitute automated customized food generation machine ascertainingmodule configured to ascertain one or more substitute automatedcustomized food generation machines that do not have the one or moreingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate the at least one customized food item in accordancewith the one or more customized food preferences of the user but whichare able to currently generate at least one substitute customized fooditem that is a substitute for the at least one customized food itemcomprises: a substitute automated customized food generation machineascertaining module configured to ascertain one or more substituteautomated customized food generation machines that have one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate a substitute customized food item that is substantially incompliance with the one or more customized food preferences of the user.279. The system of claim 202, wherein said capable automated customizedfood generation machine ascertaining module configured to ascertain oneor more capable automated customized food generation machines that haveone or more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be ableto currently generate at least one customized food item in accordancewith the one or more customized food preferences of the user comprises:a capable automated customized food generation machine ascertainingmodule including an unsatisfactory interfaced machine detecting moduleconfigured to ascertain the one or more capable automated customizedfood generation machines in response to detection by the unsatisfactoryinterfaced machine detecting module that an automated customized foodgeneration machine that the user is interfacing with is unable togenerate at least one customized food item in compliance with the one ormore customized food preferences of the user. 280.-281. (canceled) 282.The system of claim 202, wherein said indicator presenting moduleconfigured to present one or more indicators that direct the user to atleast one automated customized food generation machine, the presentationof the one or more indicators being in response at least in part to theascertainment comprises: an electronic indicator communicating moduleconfigured to communicate to one or more computing devices one or moreelectronic indicators that direct the user to at least one automatedcustomized food generation machine.
 283. (canceled)
 284. The system ofclaim 202, wherein said indicator presenting module configured topresent one or more indicators that direct the user to at least oneautomated customized food generation machine, the presentation of theone or more indicators being in response at least in part to theascertainment comprises: a graphical indicator presenting moduleconfigured to present one or more graphical indicators that direct theuser to the at least one automated customized food generation machine.285. (canceled)
 286. The system of claim 202, wherein said indicatorpresenting module configured to present one or more indicators thatdirect the user to at least one automated customized food generationmachine, the presentation of the one or more indicators being inresponse at least in part to the ascertainment comprises: an indicatorpresenting module configured to present one or more indicators thatidentify the at least one automated customized food generation machine.287.-288. (canceled)
 289. The system of claim 286, wherein saidindicator presenting module configured to present one or more indicatorsthat identify the at least one automated customized food generationmachine comprises: an indicator presenting module configured to presentone or more indicators that indicate distance between the user and theat least one automated customized food generation machine.
 290. Thesystem of claim 202, wherein said indicator presenting module configuredto present one or more indicators that direct the user to at least oneautomated customized food generation machine, the presentation of theone or more indicators being in response at least in part to theascertainment comprises: an indicator presenting module configured topresent one or more indicators that direct the user to at least oneautomated customized food generation machine that was identified ashaving the one or more ingredients in the one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate the at least one customizedfood item in accordance with the one or more customized food preferencesof the user.
 291. (canceled)
 292. The system of claim 290, wherein saidindicator presenting module configured to present one or more indicatorsthat direct the user to at least one automated customized foodgeneration machine that was identified as having the one or moreingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate the at least one customized food item in accordancewith the one or more customized food preferences of the user comprises:an indicator presenting module configured to present one or moreindicators that direct the user to at least one automated customizedfood generation machine that was identified as having the one or moreingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate the at least one customized food item in accordancewith the one or more customized food preferences of the user and that isidentified as being located along or proximate to one or more historicaltravel routes of the user.
 293. The system of claim 290, wherein saidindicator presenting module configured to present one or more indicatorsthat direct the user to at least one automated customized foodgeneration machine that was identified as having the one or moreingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate the at least one customized food item in accordancewith the one or more customized food preferences of the user comprises:an indicator presenting module configured to present one or moreindicators that direct the user to a plurality of automated customizedfood generation machines that were each identified as having the one ormore ingredients in the one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate the at least one customized food item in accordancewith the one or more customized food preferences of the user, the one ormore indicators indicating travel distance to each location of theplurality of automated customized food generation machines from thelocation of the user, nearness of each of the plurality of automatedcustomized food generation machines to one or more historical travelroutes of the user, and/or one or more price discounts available througheach of the plurality of automated customized food generation machines.294. The system of claim 202, wherein said indicator presenting moduleconfigured to present one or more indicators that direct the user to atleast one automated customized food generation machine, the presentationof the one or more indicators being in response at least in part to theascertainment comprises: an indicator presenting module configured topresent one or more indicators that indicate at least one substituteautomated customized food generation machine that was identified ashaving one or more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities tobe able to currently generate at least one customized food item that isonly in partial compliance with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user. 295.-296. (canceled)
 297. The system of claim294, wherein said indicator presenting module configured to present oneor more indicators that indicate at least one substitute automatedcustomized food generation machine that was identified as having one ormore ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate at least one customized food item that is only inpartial compliance with the one or more customized food preferences ofthe user comprises: an indicator presenting module configured to presentone or more indicators that indicate at least one substitute automatedcustomized food generation machine that was identified as having one ormore ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate at least one customized food item that is in partialcompliance with the one or more customized food preferences of the userand that was identified as being located closer to the user than one ormore automated customized food generation machines that were identifiedas having one or more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantitiesto be able to currently generate at least one customized food item infull compliance with the one or more customized food preferences of theuser.
 298. The system of claim 294, wherein said indicator presentingmodule configured to present one or more indicators that indicate atleast one substitute automated customized food generation machine thatwas identified as having one or more ingredients in one or moresufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item that is only in partial compliance with the one ormore customized food preferences of the user comprises: an indicatorpresenting module configured to present one or more indicators thatindicate at least one substitute automated customized food generationmachine that was identified as having one or more ingredients in one ormore sufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item that is in partial compliance with the one or morecustomized food preferences of the user and that was identified as beinglocated closer to one or more historical travel routes of the user thanone or more automated customized food generation machines that wereidentified as having one or more ingredients in one or more sufficientquantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized fooditem in full compliance with the one or more customized food preferencesof the user.
 299. The system of claim 294, wherein said indicatorpresenting module configured to present one or more indicators thatindicate at least one substitute automated customized food generationmachine that was identified as having one or more ingredients in one ormore sufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item that is only in partial compliance with the one ormore customized food preferences of the user comprises: an indicatorpresenting module configured to present one or more indicators thatindicate at least one substitute automated customized food generationmachine that was identified as having one or more ingredients in one ormore sufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least onecustomized food item that is in partial compliance with the one or morecustomized food preferences of the user and that was identified ashaving lower retail prices than retail prices of one or more automatedcustomized food generation machines that were identified as having oneor more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able tocurrently generate at least one customized food item in full compliancewith the one or more customized food preferences of the user.
 300. Thesystem of claim 294, wherein said indicator presenting module configuredto present one or more indicators that indicate at least one substituteautomated customized food generation machine that was identified ashaving one or more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities tobe able to currently generate at least one customized food item that isonly in partial compliance with the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user comprises: an indicator presenting moduleconfigured to present one or more indicators that indicate the at leastone substitute automated customized food generation machine and thatindicate one or more capable automated customized food generationmachines that were identified as having one or more ingredients in oneor more sufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at leastone customized food item in full compliance with the one or morecustomized food preferences of the user.
 301. An article of manufacture,comprising: a non-transitory storage medium bearing: one or moreinstructions for obtaining user preference information of a user thatindicates one or more customized food preferences of the user, the oneor more customized food preferences of the user preference informationincluding at least one or more preferences of the user that are relatedto integrity of one or more ingredients for use in generating one ormore customized food items; one or more instructions for ascertainingone or more capable automated customized food generation machines thathave one or more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to beable to currently generate at least one customized food item inaccordance with the one or more customized food preferences of the user;and one or more instructions for presenting one or more indicators thatdirect the user to at least one automated customized food generationmachine, the presentation of the one or more indicators being inresponse at least in part to the ascertainment.
 302. A system,comprising: a user preference information obtaining module configured toobtain user preference information of a user that indicates one or morecustomized food preferences of the user, the one or more customized foodpreferences of the user preference information including at least one ormore preferences of the user that are related to integrity of one ormore ingredients for use in generating one or more customized fooditems; a capable automated customized food generation machineascertaining module configured to ascertain one or more capableautomated customized food generation machines that have one or moreingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currentlygenerate at least one customized food item in accordance with the one ormore customized food preferences of the user; a indicator presentingmodule configured to present one or more indicators that direct the userto at least one automated customized food generation machine, thepresentation of the one or more indicators being in response at least inpart to the ascertainment; and a customized food item production system.